Wanting to leave town life behind them, this episode's couple have their sights set on a new countryside home in Northamptonshire, and Ginny Buckley is on hand to help them find it.
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00:00Some country escapees are searching for a return to more peaceful surroundings remembered from childhood.
00:08Is this the kind of village you had in mind?
00:10This is idyllic.
00:12For others, it's about having more space at home.
00:16Imposing? Wow!
00:18But whether you end up with rural vistas...
00:21Look at the views!
00:23Or a lifestyle more in touch with the land...
00:26Welcome to Clerkingham Palace.
00:28That I love.
00:29There's a good chance a country move will bring some very touching moments.
00:35You've done it now, you've opened the flood gates.
00:59Today we're escaping to where the grass is greener.
01:02To chew over idyllic cottages and memorable market towns.
01:08To somewhere with loads of room and a view or two.
01:12It's Northamptonshire.
01:15Many of the counties that we film in on Escape have a look and feel all of their own.
01:20But villages like this with historic stone homes, quiet lanes and all surrounded by beautiful countryside...
01:28Well, you could easily mistake it for the Cotswolds.
01:31So much so, in fact, that the locals have named Northamptonshire the Notswolds.
01:40Located in the East Midlands of England, landlocked Northamptonshire is now two separate administrative counties, North and West.
01:49As a whole, there are so many churches and impressive country estates that it's known as the County of Squires and Spires.
01:58Despite the lack of coastline, opportunities to enjoy water abound, including many lakes and reservoirs.
02:05As well as the River Welland forming part of the county border.
02:09The site of an impressive Victorian viaduct testaments the area's long-standing connectivity.
02:16Northamptonshire villages are really varied in character.
02:19There's some really beautiful sandstone properties in the North and then down into the South you get more sort of red brick and redstone.
02:26So you've got wonderful rolling countryside but then at the same time most of the county is quite well connected.
02:31So either through the road links or, you know, for instance you might be in a really gorgeous little village and then within 20 minutes you can be in a big town where you've got everything you need right at your doorstep.
02:42I love Northamptonshire because it's so accessible.
02:45You've got all these enchanting fields and forests and walks surrounding us and it's an incredible environment for wildlife, for families.
02:55I've got a family myself and it's just great to be with all this on our doorstep in the centre of England, the heart of England.
03:02It's just absolutely delightful. I love it here.
03:06Our couple feel like their hometown is changing and growing by the day.
03:10So although they're only escaping an hour or so up the road, I'm sure that the Northamptonshire countryside will feel like a million miles away.
03:20I'm Debra and this is Mark and we are looking to escape to the country with our grown son Joseph and our two cats Mordecai and Libby.
03:28Debra, a life coach and her husband Mark, an associate director at an engineering firm, currently live in the family home where Mark grew up.
03:37The problem is their surroundings in the town of Aylesbury have also grown up a lot at the same time.
03:46It's really busy and it's only going to get busier isn't it darling?
03:50Yeah so when I grew up in Aylesbury it was sort of like a quiet little market town but now this road during the weekday just gets absolutely chock-a-block.
03:59The biggest change for me is that I want to get a dog.
04:03Time spent with family on nice long country walks and we now have a new dog as well.
04:09What we're really wanting is a bit more peace and quiet so that's why we're looking to Northamptonshire.
04:14And we'd like a bigger garden so we can do more gardening and be self-sufficient so really sort of countryside stuff.
04:21I absolutely love our house and I wish I could just take it and plonk it somewhere else but I think really it's about going back to the country.
04:30Debra and Mark have a budget of up to £600,000 to buy a Northamptonshire countryside home for themselves and adult son Joseph.
04:39For that they want three to four bedrooms, an open plan kitchen diner and a large private garden, preferably with some views.
04:47Mark doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the house but he does want to make it a bit more special.
04:52For that they want three to four bedrooms, an open plan kitchen diner and a large private garden, preferably with some views.
05:00Mark needs to be able to travel to work in London and as neither Debra nor son Joseph drive, public transport links or shops within walking distance are important.
05:10A workshop or garage would be an added bonus.
05:14Mark has a real emotional connection to the house that they're living in. It was the house that he quite literally grew up in and that I think is going to be a big thing for him.
05:24I think Debra's looking at this differently. She's after more space, I think she's excited about putting down new memories in a place they've chosen together.
05:32So the challenge for us is finding the house that will really keep both of them happy and make both of them enjoy this future move.
05:41We're starting our search in the North Northamptonshire village of Gretton, close to the Rutland border.
05:48Before I reveal my first property card, we're catching up on the green here as I've got a few things I'd like to find out from Mark and Debra about their move.
05:59So welcome to Northamptonshire.
06:03So what is it about this beautiful county, other than its beauty, that makes you want to call it home?
06:07Well, it is the beauty, but actually I saw an episode of Escape to the Country, which I love watching, and I saw Northamptonshire.
06:15It looked like the Cotswolds, but it wasn't the Cotswolds, and I thought, wow, absolutely stunning, and cheaper than the Cotswolds as well.
06:22So other than the good overview that you got from watching Escape to the Country, how well do you know Northamptonshire, both of you?
06:29Not very well.
06:30Not a great deal.
06:32Not very well at all.
06:34We started exploring a few weeks ago, but what we've seen, we love. It's lovely countryside and the little villages is fantastic.
06:41Mark, this must be quite a bittersweet move for you, because you're leaving your house that has been your proper family home for most of your life. How are you feeling?
06:50It's kind of a bit of a double edged sword, because there's a lot of memories in that home of my parents.
06:55But I think what we're really looking is to sort of rekindle that initial start I had with my family somewhere else, somewhere more countryside.
07:04Now when it comes to house hunting, are you both looking for the same thing?
07:08Mostly, yes. I think as an engineer, he's going to be looking from his engineer head.
07:13I think we come together at the end. We rationalise and we bring the points and come back together.
07:18And I hope you're both looking at it from a location point of view. Is this the kind of village you had in mind?
07:22It's beautiful.
07:24This is idyllic for me.
07:26It's gorgeous. Absolutely amazing, yeah.
07:28Well, you have made me very happy, because the first house that I'm going to show you is just minutes walk away.
07:35Wonderful, yes.
07:36Come on, let's go.
07:39The village of Gretton is located within the former royal hunting grounds of Rockingham Forest.
07:46There are a little over 1,500 residents who are served by a couple of pubs, a cafe, a sports and social club, along with a small shop with visiting post office.
07:58The town of Corby, five miles away, has twice hourly trains to Luton Airport, as well as a fast service to St Pancras in London that takes just an hour.
08:07Many of the houses are built in local limestone, and the one we're here to see is located down a very quiet country lane, not far from the village green.
08:18I said it was a short walk away.
08:20It's lovely.
08:22It's gorgeous.
08:24It's got that yellow brick that you love.
08:26I love it, yeah. It's absolutely beautiful.
08:28It's got a traditional kind of cottagey feel. It's very loved and cared for and looked after, and you can tell that from the property.
08:35And it's got a lovely beauty and charm to it.
08:38Shall we go take a look?
08:39Sure.
08:40Come on.
08:44This attached stone cottage is laid out over three floors and dates to the mid-1600s, with external features including stone money and windows.
08:54Although it would have been thatched when it was first built, the roof has subsequently been tiled.
09:00A porched front door.
09:02So come on in.
09:04Takes us via a small hall into a kitchen and dining room with an original Ingle Nook fireplace.
09:11I don't know what I was expecting. It's just lovely.
09:15I love the old and the new together. I think that works really well for me.
09:20Yeah, it's lovely.
09:21It's really cosy.
09:22And it's not too small for me.
09:23It's had a really beautiful update done, with a really nice modern touch, but they've kept all the lovely original features, which is nice.
09:31Are you keen to see more?
09:32Yeah, absolutely.
09:33That's cool. Absolutely. Lead on.
09:34Follow me.
09:36At the gable end of the home, the original cottage layout has been opened up to provide a large reception room.
09:43Lovely.
09:45It's a beautiful space.
09:46Lovely. Look at the stone.
09:48The exposed stone. I mean, that's brilliant.
09:50And the beam over the wood burner. It's done really well.
09:53It's beautiful.
09:54This has such a lovely, calming feel to it.
09:57Yeah.
09:58I can see where the care's been taken in kind of modernising it and getting it with a good internal fit out.
10:04And I'm excited when she's excited as well.
10:07Let's talk about upstairs.
10:09OK.
10:10Four bedrooms.
10:11Good.
10:12That's very interesting.
10:13It is. Come on. Let's go and look.
10:15The bedrooms are laid out over two further floors.
10:19Oh, wow. Look at this landing, babe.
10:22And I want to start right at the top with the impressive principal bedroom located in the eaves of the upper floor.
10:29Oh, wow.
10:30Oh, that's lovely.
10:31Oh, my goodness.
10:33It's just gorgeous.
10:36It's really, really pretty.
10:37It's lovely.
10:38Let's open the doors behind you.
10:40Oh, that's a bit exciting.
10:42Oh!
10:43I did think that was a wardrobe. I have to be honest.
10:46I knew you think it was a wardrobe. I knew that's what you think.
10:49Look at this thing.
10:50That's a very interesting space.
10:51Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it?
10:53Come on. Come on out. I've got more to show you.
10:55Oh, I love it.
10:56Just go and look through the window.
10:57Oh, my goodness.
10:59Look at the views.
11:00Now, I can see you sat down there with the book.
11:02I mean, that's what it's all about, isn't it?
11:04Oh, my goodness.
11:05Oh, my goodness.
11:06Oh, my goodness.
11:07Oh, my goodness.
11:08You look a bit emotional.
11:09I am a little bit.
11:10It's lovely.
11:11It's quite an emotional move for us.
11:14Yeah, yeah.
11:15Sorry.
11:16You've done it now. You've opened the flood gates.
11:18Yeah.
11:19There's a whole other floor you haven't explored.
11:21It's just amazing.
11:22So, off you go. Head downstairs.
11:25Take a good look around.
11:26OK.
11:27Check out the other bedrooms.
11:28Oh.
11:29Um...
11:30Gosh.
11:32I don't often well up on this programme,
11:34but I genuinely think that's a good idea.
11:36I don't often well up on this programme,
11:38but I genuinely am, and I think it's because
11:40it's obviously such an emotive move for them,
11:43and it's so good to see both of them
11:45having a positive reaction to a house,
11:47because at one point I was a bit worried when I first met them
11:50that they might not be able to agree,
11:52and it looks like they are.
11:55On the middle floor below,
11:56there are three further bedrooms to explore.
11:59Two of these are smaller rooms
12:00that are partly set into the eaves of the lower section of the roof.
12:05Who's fighting over the office?
12:08I'm sure I'd win.
12:10And like all the rooms at the property,
12:12each benefit from good broadband for working from home.
12:16Slightly smaller, but still a good size.
12:18OK, but it's enough room for your office, I think.
12:20I think you did there.
12:23All of these rooms are served by a family bathroom,
12:26including a good-sized double,
12:28with far-reaching views that could perhaps suit son Joseph.
12:32Yeah, and you could maybe put a bed that way round
12:34if this was Jay's room,
12:35so he could organise the space a bit more.
12:39Outside, the private drive with off-street parking
12:43and a detached garage
12:45leads past the property to reach a sizeable garden.
12:49Wow.
12:51Look at that.
12:53There's mature planting, a greenhouse,
12:56a shed, seating areas,
12:59and a summer house with electricity,
13:02which also benefits from the home's broadband.
13:06The Jurassic Way footpath passes through the adjoining countryside.
13:10And actually, there's a gate on the fields for dog walks.
13:13Oh, wow.
13:14Yes.
13:15Perfect.
13:16Now, I know you watch Skate to the Country,
13:18so I'm sure you know what's coming next.
13:20I'm going to ask you to guess the price of the property.
13:22£575,000.
13:23OK, £575,000.
13:25That's exactly what I was going to say.
13:27Have you two been peaking?
13:29No.
13:30You sure?
13:31Very sure.
13:32It's on the market for £575,000.
13:34Oh, wow.
13:36It's nice to know that we can get something below budget
13:39that's as gorgeous as this, yeah.
13:43Hitting a lot of our buyers' wish list,
13:45this attached 17th-century stone cottage
13:49offers an open-plan kitchen and dining room
13:52and four bedrooms, including a principal with an en-suite.
13:56The generous plot provides direct access to country walks
13:59as well as a summer house with internet connection.
14:04It's a beautiful, beautiful house.
14:06It's really gorgeous,
14:08and the mix of old and new is really what appeals to me.
14:12Absolutely beautiful, picturesque.
14:14It's kind of what I was looking for
14:17in more of kind of a rural,
14:19which I've got in my heart very much so.
14:22Good start.
14:23Yeah.
14:24Very good start.
14:25Brilliant.
14:26Well, we can't linger cos we have people to see,
14:28places to go or something.
14:29OK.
14:40Deborah and Mark may want to leave Aylesbury life behind,
14:43but they still like access to some of the connectivity
14:46and community a market town has to offer.
14:49Thrapstone in North Northamptonshire
14:51is home to just over 7,000 residents.
14:55I love this stone. The stone's beautiful.
14:58Good road links, including easy access to the A14,
15:02mean the city of Birmingham is just over an hour away
15:05and buses run to destinations including Kettering and Corby,
15:09where there are good onward rail options.
15:14There's a strong sense of a community.
15:16It's a very safe place to bring up children.
15:19People are very supportive, people are very nice.
15:22It's very sociable.
15:23There's a lot of events going on all the time.
15:26We have the lakes and rivers and all sorts,
15:29and beautiful parks and open spaces.
15:32We have lots of independent shops and eateries
15:36and it is bringing people into the town
15:38because we are now seen as a destination high street,
15:42also a destination town.
15:44Contributing to making Thrapstone a place to head to
15:48is toy shop owner Charlotte Crosser.
15:52She also helped launch a farmer's market in the town nine years ago.
15:56Deborah and Mark are meeting her in one of the town's many green spaces
16:00to find out what the area has to offer.
16:03So how did you get involved with the local community?
16:06Well, having a shop, obviously you get to meet lots of people.
16:09So soon after opening, I got together with a group of people
16:13and we launched the monthly farmer's market,
16:16which we use as an opportunity
16:19to encourage people to the high street to shop
16:21and support local farmers.
16:23And it's really successful
16:25and really creates a lovely buzz on those market Saturdays.
16:29Oh, fantastic.
16:30So coming into the area,
16:31what are the type of local events that we could get involved in?
16:34We have a really active community centre.
16:37We have an amateur dramatics society.
16:40We have a really good leisure centre based in the town,
16:43just walking distance from the town centre.
16:45We have a sailing club, all sorts.
16:47So I'm really keen to get a dog.
16:49What's the dog walking facilities like around here?
16:52Really good.
16:53Thrapston is very much a doggy kind of place.
16:56There are lots of walks.
16:58There's a good 2.7 mile walk around the sailing lake.
17:01So that's really good asset.
17:03Whilst we're here, what should we look at?
17:05So definitely go towards Nine Arches Bridge,
17:08which is over the River Nen.
17:10And it's a beautiful views
17:12and there's some lovely housing around there as well.
17:15Looks amazing.
17:17I think that's really, really well designed.
17:20This market town has laid out its stall well to Deborah and Mark.
17:24But now to see what else is on the market for them
17:27when it comes to finding a place to live.
17:34The next option, just over the county border in Leicestershire,
17:38is in the small village of Stockerston.
17:40And it lies in the rural setting of the beautiful Welland Valley,
17:44named after the river that forms part of the boundary
17:47between Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
17:50The town of Market Harbour, nine miles away,
17:52has good transport links,
17:54including buses to Leicester taking around an hour
17:57and regular trains to and from London with a similar journey time.
18:02Located at the edge of the village
18:04is the property that we're here to see.
18:08The house I want to show you
18:10is literally right in front of us.
18:13That's really pretty.
18:15Yeah, it's very pretty.
18:16Beautiful colour, isn't it? The gold.
18:18Wonderful.
18:19I do like plants around the house.
18:21You do? I know!
18:22It's very cute.
18:23The beauty continues round the back.
18:25So I want to take you round there.
18:27OK.
18:28Because I want to show you the views.
18:29OK, yeah.
18:30Because that, for me, is the big thing with this house.
18:32OK.
18:33Wonderful.
18:34The russet glow of this Grade II listed period attached cottage
18:38comes from the iron content of the limestone used in its construction.
18:43And talking of glows, the view from the rear garden
18:46certainly inspires a warm one.
18:50I thought about, do I save this to the end?
18:52But I thought, no, I've got to show you straight away.
18:55That's mesmerising.
18:56That's amazing.
18:57It's quite a special spot, isn't it, looking out on that?
19:00Yeah, it's beautiful.
19:01It's like, wow, you could just sit your chair there,
19:04sit there and just watch it all day.
19:06I actually think the house is pretty lovely too.
19:09OK.
19:10So, come on, come and join me and see what you think.
19:13OK, OK.
19:18Originally a two-up, two-down,
19:20the cottage was extensively refurbished 15 years ago
19:24when a large two-storey extension was also added.
19:28And it's in here that we start our tour
19:31in the open-plan kitchen-diner of the currently unoccupied home.
19:36So, come on in.
19:38It is empty.
19:40It's a blank canvas.
19:42Wow.
19:43Wow, it's a big space, isn't it?
19:45It's quite a big space.
19:46Yes.
19:47Might actually do some washing up with a view like that.
19:50So, it goes round into a living space.
19:53I'm going to walk through here.
19:56The kitchen-diner flows through into a garden room,
20:00which in turn opens up into a further reception
20:03in the original part.
20:05It's got this lovely open-plan feel.
20:07Wow.
20:09Look at that.
20:10This is nice. I like this.
20:12Also throws lots of light into the sitting room.
20:15Yes, it does.
20:16I think the flow is very nice, actually.
20:18It does flow wonderfully into this room, and I love the floor.
20:22I'm thinking dogs and muck.
20:24I'm thinking practically, actually.
20:27I'm just thinking where positions of sofas would go.
20:30Go and take a look at the other sitting room.
20:32Sure.
20:33Have a look through that and start to think about
20:35how you might use this house to live in.
20:37OK, thank you.
20:38I will be waiting for you at the top of the stairs.
20:40OK.
20:41Come and find me.
20:43The final reception room is in the remainder of the original footprint
20:47and features exposed beams with brickwork around the fireplace.
20:53Look, a wood burner.
20:54That's very cute, a nice wood burner.
20:56What's in the door?
20:58Ooh!
20:59Oh, OK, so it's like an understairs toilet.
21:01OK.
21:02I wasn't expecting that.
21:03I sense a slight reticence, and I can't quite decide
21:08if it's because the house has not got furniture in and furnishings,
21:12and that does make it harder to imagine you living here,
21:15or if they're actually just not sure about the house.
21:17Let's see if the accommodation upstairs has got what they're looking for.
21:21With three bedrooms in total,
21:23I'm going to start in the rear extension once again,
21:26with the principal one.
21:29So this is the largest of the three bedrooms.
21:31OK.
21:32And I suspect it's the one you would want,
21:35because if you just pop down and imagine that you're in there...
21:38Yes, you've got the view!
21:39I'm finding you both quite hard to read on this one.
21:42I think, if I'm honest, I don't have the feel with this one.
21:46Definitely the view.
21:47The view's amazing!
21:48I'm not going to take anything away from the view.
21:50I'm not going to let you give up on it yet.
21:52I'm not going to let that happen yet, because you haven't seen it all.
21:56Let's go to the bedrooms, take a look at the bathroom,
21:59and then come outside and let's just talk about some of the pros and cons.
22:02OK.
22:03Sure.
22:05So, that thought I had earlier downstairs, that's just answered it, hasn't it?
22:09They're just not getting the feels.
22:12Next to the main bedroom in the extension is the family bathroom.
22:16The two remaining bedrooms are nestled into the loft space of the oldest part.
22:21A double guest room with a chimney breast at one gable end,
22:25and another double room with windows to two sides, plus built-in storage.
22:32I think this is a nice, bright room.
22:34Yeah, I like the double aspect.
22:36We'll make a lovely home for someone.
22:38I don't think that's us.
22:42Outside, there's a small area of garden to the front,
22:45whilst the garden to the rear comprises of a gravel driveway
22:49providing off-street parking, as well as an area of lawn.
22:53But, of course, the real focus out here is the splendid surrounding countryside.
23:01It is all about this view, isn't it?
23:03Yes, the views are beautiful.
23:05Come on, it's time to do the guessing.
23:07What do you think this property is on the market for,
23:09given that the top end of your budget is £600,000?
23:13I would have said around £500,000 for this property.
23:16I'm going to go a bit lower.
23:18OK.
23:19£475,000.
23:20It's on for £600,000.
23:22It's a really desirable property, with fabulous views,
23:26and a really popular area.
23:28I think it goes to show that if you don't get the zing of a property,
23:32then perhaps you're not really seeing its true value.
23:35Yeah, absolutely. I'd have to agree with that.
23:38This Grade II listed cottage is at the top end of their budget,
23:42and whilst not for Deborah and Mark,
23:44it really does have all the makings of a wonderful rural home.
23:48There's a very well-appointed country kitchen-diner,
23:51with an open-plan flow to the rest of the ground floor.
23:54Three bedrooms, a low-maintenance garden,
23:57and wonderful views over the neighbouring countryside.
24:01There is a lot that we want to do with the garden,
24:03so in terms of growing crops, having space for chickens,
24:06that kind of thing, the view is fantastic,
24:09but the outdoor space is quite limited.
24:11Yeah, not quite right.
24:13For me, personally, it's cemented that too rural
24:17is not what I want.
24:20Let's head off on our way. OK.
24:30I have quickly learnt gardens are almost as important
24:33as houses for a couple,
24:35so to find out what they've discovered from our first day,
24:38we've come to a garden voted the nation's favourite,
24:42North Northamptonshire's Coton Manor,
24:45where there are five acres of beautiful bluebell woods.
24:50I don't think anything really sums up the countryside to me
24:53more than a bluebell wood in spring.
24:55Yeah. Just with the sunlight glinting through. Yeah.
24:59What have you found today?
25:02I think it's been a lot of fun. Yeah? Yeah.
25:05And eye-opening. Yeah.
25:07It's kind of what we'd hoped for in terms of more open,
25:12more peaceful, more countryside.
25:15Absolutely. I mean, this is just kind of the example.
25:18It's amazing. And we've seen some beautiful villages.
25:21Just Northamptonshire is beautiful.
25:23Oh, yeah. Lovely, lovely houses, lovely villages.
25:26Yeah, I loved it.
25:27There's kind of a feel for the local area,
25:29and I think when the right house hits us,
25:32you know, may have already, we'll see.
25:36Yeah, I think it will be an easy transition.
25:38OK, well, how gorgeous would it be to have this on the doorstep?
25:41And let's go and enjoy the bluebells,
25:43cos it's such a special time of year and they're not here for long.
25:46Yeah. Shall we go wander? Yes.
26:02Property prices in Northamptonshire
26:04vary considerably between the west and the north.
26:07West Northamptonshire, bordering Oxfordshire,
26:10and Buckinghamshire, and served by the M1 and M40 motorways,
26:14attracts a premium.
26:16The average price of a detached house here is just over £492,000,
26:22almost £35,000 higher than the UK figure of £457,000.
26:29But head over to North Northamptonshire,
26:31and that figure drops to sit below the national average,
26:35coming in at around £440,000.
26:40And here are some pics from North Northamptonshire
26:43to show you what else your property pound might buy.
26:47This character cottage in the centre of the ancient village of Brigstock
26:52has three double bedrooms and period features.
26:55There's a courtyard garden, perfect for that morning cuppa,
26:59on the market for offers over £280,000.
27:04This traditional stone thatch is in a conservation village
27:08within the Ashton Estate.
27:10There are two bedrooms and a wall garden
27:13that includes a recently added shepherd's hut.
27:16It has an asking price of £525,000.
27:23And if you're after the right sort of cabin fever,
27:26this wood-built beauty on a very rurally located former airfield
27:31is set amongst birch trees.
27:33Chefs can cook up a feast with the choice of a full kitchen,
27:37a pizza oven or a fire pit with grill.
27:41You can then finish the night with a relaxing nightcap in the hot tub.
27:45It sleeps four and costs from £155 per night in low season.
27:56When you consider that Deborah and Mark
27:58didn't really know Northamptonshire that well,
28:00other than what they've seen on episodes of Escape To The Country,
28:03I think it's really delivering.
28:05But we're not done yet, of course.
28:07We've got more people to meet, more to explore,
28:09and a mystery house that I think will really get them thinking.
28:15For my mystery pick, I'm taking Mark and Deborah
28:18to the country town of Rawns.
28:20This market town has a population of just under 9,500
28:25and was a centre for bootmaking until the mid-20th century.
28:29A bus service to Wellingborough, 10 miles away,
28:32where there are national rail links, takes around an hour.
28:36Rawns itself offers a really good range of services,
28:39including GPs and pharmacies, as well as a broad choice of shops,
28:44many of which are unique to the town.
28:47The Artful Duck is part shop and part gallery,
28:51hosting work from the makers of the area.
28:54Curated by local artist and resident Ali Meeker,
28:57it's a great place to find out what it's really like to live in the town.
29:02Deborah and Mark are going to move to the area.
29:05Going, being the operative word in that sentence.
29:08What's on offer for these guys here in Rawns?
29:11We've been here for 20 years,
29:13and the community has got better and better over those 20 years.
29:17Yeah, it's a lovely place to live.
29:19And the town has still got a village-type atmosphere.
29:24It hasn't lost that.
29:26And having these shops in the centre of the town,
29:29a lot of those are independent, which is really nice.
29:32What would you recommend Deborah and Mark could do locally?
29:35The Baker's is a couple of doors away. That's highly recommended.
29:39It's in a beautiful historic building as well.
29:42Lovely to meet you. You're welcome.
29:44Happy house hunting. Take care.
29:46You know where to come for your paintings if you do buy locally.
29:50While Deborah and Mark take that advice
29:53and check out some of the shops on offer,
29:55I've come ahead to the outskirts of town
29:58to preview our mystery property pick.
30:01Given that Deborah and their son Joe don't drive,
30:04I think the proximity to a nice busy town and great transport links
30:09means this property could work well for all the family.
30:13And on top of that, this three-storey, double-fronted Victorian house
30:18is the first detached property I've shown them.
30:21It's also by far the largest and the grandest.
30:24Straight away, all the original period features in this property
30:28take me back to 1869,
30:30when Mr Smith, a local builder, built this house for his family.
30:34Since then, it's been a few different things,
30:36including, for a long time, the local telephone exchange,
30:39but it is now a really substantial family home
30:42that goes not just up above me, but also down below,
30:45so there's a lot for them to see.
30:47So that means we'd better get going.
30:52Hello. Hello.
30:54Come into my Victorian townhouse.
30:57Oh, my... Come on in.
30:59It's very grand, isn't it? There's a lot going on.
31:02Oh, my... I thought there was, like, flats or something in here.
31:05The only way you really get the true scale of this house
31:08is actually from the back garden.
31:10Follow me, we're going straight out into the garden. OK. Come on.
31:13To reach that rear garden, we have to go down
31:16to what would have been the servants' domain.
31:20We've got a whole other floor. Extra space. Look at this.
31:23And out through the former tradesman's entrance.
31:28So, the mystery house.
31:30They would have had domestic servants back in the day,
31:33and part of the area that they would have lived
31:36is now a huge garage, which could easily be a workshop.
31:39And then you can also see that bottom bay window.
31:41Well, in there is an absolutely fantastic space
31:44that I imagine was probably once a scullery, but it's a games room.
31:47Loads of potential for you all as a family.
31:50But it's got so much character. It's lovely.
31:52Yeah, I'm pretty stunned, to be fair.
31:54There's so many original features I want to show you.
31:56Absolutely, yeah. Let's go back upstairs.
31:58OK. We'll start in the middle. OK.
32:02Back on the middle floor, off the entrance hall at street level,
32:05is the main reception room.
32:09So, I may have mentioned original features.
32:13Oh, this room's gorgeous.
32:15This is my kind of room.
32:17Beautiful fireplace. Yeah.
32:19It's a really stunning fireplace.
32:21It's lovely. Great proportions, good-sized room, good aspects.
32:24I want to go and take you through to the kitchen. Come on!
32:27Across that impressive entrance hall...
32:30Oh, I love this staircase!
32:32Nice, isn't it? Oh, it's beautiful!
32:35We're heading to the rear, where the kitchen and dining room
32:38has a balcony overlooking the garden.
32:41Oh, that's so cute! That's lovely. Oh, my gosh!
32:45It's a nice modern kitchen.
32:47It's so lovely! Like, it is really lovely.
32:50Mm. Wow. It has got the wow factor. It does, yeah.
32:53It's well laid out. That's a lot of good space.
32:55Yeah, exactly. There is space.
32:57Why don't you go upstairs, take a look around,
33:00spend a bit of time deciding which bedrooms might work for who,
33:04and then meet me back in the garden.
33:07Completing this middle level to the front
33:10is a further reception room,
33:12full of those Victorian proportions and features.
33:16Up on the top floor, the family bathroom has been given a distinctive edge,
33:20with a black-and-white checkered tile pattern,
33:23favoured in the 19th century.
33:26Oh, roll-top bath.
33:28OK. It goes in keeping with the house.
33:33All four bedrooms are on the top floor,
33:35starting with a very spacious dual-aspect double room.
33:39Wow. Wow. Look at the size of this room!
33:42And it's light and airy. Beautiful.
33:45Next to this is a smaller guest room.
33:48Another bedroom could also work as an office
33:51and has an en-suite WC.
33:55Then the final bedroom is a good-sized double room
33:58with a corner position at the front of the home.
34:02This is pretty, isn't it? Wow.
34:04Again, another dual-aspect, which is nice. Yeah.
34:07The garden is a fully enclosed, dog-friendly space,
34:11surrounded by a combination of hedging, walls and fencing.
34:15There's a greenhouse and an area of seating
34:18where we're catching up to see if Deborah and Mark
34:22can guess where my mystery proposition sits
34:25in terms of their £600,000 budget.
34:28There's a lot to see in the house. Yes.
34:30It's a huge house.
34:32Imposing! Wow.
34:34What do you think this property is on the market for?
34:36I think it's about £650,000.
34:38OK, £650,000. Yeah, yeah.
34:40I would have said more, but because it needs to be
34:43relatively near to our budget, I'll limit it at £650,000.
34:46OK. Yeah.
34:48It's on the market for £599,950.
34:52You'd have £50 left out of your budget!
34:55LAUGHTER
34:57Interesting. There's a lot to think about.
34:59Well, I would like you to go inside and think about
35:01how you'd spend the £50 that are left in your budget.
35:06Interesting indeed.
35:08Would I have bet this £50 on the fact that they'd have fallen
35:11for the mystery house?
35:13No, but I kind of wish I had.
35:17My market town mystery is a substantial detached Victorian house
35:21with period features that include a grand entrance hall.
35:25There are four bedrooms, an enclosed garden,
35:28and Mark has the option of a workshop in either the garage
35:32or the former scullery of the servants' quarters.
35:36I think there's a lot you could do with it.
35:38Absolutely. It's a bonus.
35:40Oh, it's a sneak attainment.
35:42LAUGHTER
35:43When we pulled up outside,
35:45I actually thought that you guys had found us a flat.
35:49The fact that it's the whole house is...
35:52Yeah, I'm speechless.
35:54In terms of location, it gives me a lot of comfort
35:57because it's closer to amenities for Deborah and Joseph.
36:00It's good for them to just be able to pop in and out.
36:03I think I've given you something to think about, haven't I?
36:06You really have!
36:14Many who move to the countryside
36:16are looking to spend more time in the garden.
36:19And here in the market town of Kettering,
36:21a 2.5-acre site called Greenpatch,
36:24located on the edge of a housing estate,
36:27is helping to provide garden space for all.
36:31Run by charity organisation Groundwork,
36:34I'm meeting manager Gray Linley
36:37to discover what it's all about.
36:40It's such a beautiful space.
36:42So much packed into it.
36:44What was the vision for it, Gray?
36:46It started as one gigantic vegetable garden
36:49with a veg box scheme.
36:51Our emphasis is creating community hubs around green spaces,
36:54so we've made it more people-centric.
36:56Schools come down here with special needs.
36:58They've got a proper play area
37:00and all sorts of other support sessions.
37:02But then we have a huge demand from our adult volunteers
37:06for a community garden and growing space.
37:09We're embedded in a very low-income area,
37:12so it really creates a sort of great place
37:15where we can provide a magical option
37:17that they don't otherwise have in their lives.
37:20And obviously, you know, cost of living has gone up so much.
37:24Accessing, you know, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables...
37:27It can be really expensive.
37:29Yeah, yeah. It's really expensive
37:31and we specialise in keeping it really cheap.
37:33We had cut comb honey for the first time last year.
37:36We sold that very cheaply so people could afford
37:38the pleasure of experiencing that.
37:40We identify some families and give food parcels and veg boxes.
37:43And I've noticed chickens as well.
37:45Yeah, well, we have chickens,
37:47which we put eggs in the veg boxes when we've got them
37:50and we could go and have a scramble for eggs.
37:52Go on, let's have a go. I love a scramble.
37:58As well as providing a delicious supply of eggs,
38:02the hens are a great way of teaching children from the area
38:05about where their food comes from.
38:07Welcome to Cluckingham Palace.
38:09That I love.
38:11And plans are afoot for a Sponsor a Hen scheme
38:15to help raise funds to support the activities here.
38:18Into the inner sanctum.
38:20So, there's an egg there.
38:22Oh, lovely. Love that.
38:24I've got one. We only need one for my bald egg.
38:28Good. Perfect.
38:30It's not all about food production.
38:33All sorts of well-being and personal growth are nurtured here.
38:37And today I'm joining their Tai Chi class in a polytunnel.
38:41So, inhale as you come up.
38:45Gently exhale as you come down, bending the knees.
38:47Try and keep your back as straight as you can.
38:55Keep your feet parallel, bring your hands into the prayer position.
38:58Straighten the legs.
39:00Our instructor Kirsty is a local and a Green Patch regular.
39:04What does the Green Patch mean to you?
39:06It's a great place. It gets the community together.
39:09Children can come and just play and be among nature.
39:12Things that they don't normally get to do when they're indoors.
39:14They can come and feed the chickens.
39:16I bring my nephews down here. They love it.
39:18So, it's just great for the children on the estate as well.
39:20Somewhere to come for them to do different things.
39:25A team of gardeners helps to supply the seasonal veg boxes.
39:29And the space also offers the option to grow your own.
39:34So, how long have you been coming down to the Green Patch?
39:3720 years.
39:39Yes, I came down when there was nothing much here.
39:41There was only one polytunnel.
39:43And what does it mean to you to come down here and to be part of this community?
39:47It's fresh air, meeting other people.
39:50It reminds me of my father because he had an allotment.
39:53He taught me about vegetables.
39:55I come down at least once a week, sometimes twice.
39:57And we have lunch together on Tuesdays, which is nice and cheerful.
40:01And what about the name, Green Patch?
40:03It had a very long, boring name before.
40:06And so, I said, let's have green something.
40:10How about Green Patch?
40:11So, you named it?
40:12Yes, I believe I did.
40:14Brilliant.
40:15Well, it's more than a green patch now, isn't it?
40:17It's a big project.
40:19It's an incredible place.
40:22I'm going to let you get back to your planting.
40:24Thank you very much.
40:25I hope it bears you loads of great things to eat.
40:31I've had such a lovely few hours here.
40:34Wouldn't it be brilliant if every estate in every town across the UK
40:39had one of these on their doorstep?
40:41Just imagine what good this would do for our collective mental health.
40:45It's a great place.
40:51I think these guys may have fallen for Northamptonshire,
40:54so it's time to see if they've fallen for any of our houses.
41:01Nice spot.
41:03Well, you two.
41:05So, have you fallen for Northamptonshire?
41:07And could you see yourselves calling it home?
41:10Yes.
41:12It's charming. It's got a lot of character.
41:14Some of the villages you took us to, lovely.
41:16But the question, of course, I've got to ask is,
41:18have you actually fallen for any of the houses that we've looked at?
41:22But unfortunately, none of them were quite right for what we wanted.
41:27My heart probably is still with number one.
41:29I think so.
41:31But it wasn't quite big enough with enough space for what we wanted.
41:35But the peace and quiet was amazing.
41:38The outlook, the garden, oh, my goodness, the garden.
41:41It was just beautiful.
41:43And then house number three, so much character, so much space,
41:47so much potential, but then still not as peaceful as the first one,
41:51so we were kind of torn.
41:53What I hope most of all from this week
41:55is that you can see this move becoming a reality.
41:58So here's to that, absolutely.
42:00Wishing you all the luck with your search
42:03and lots of happiness when you finally end up here.
42:05Thank you so much. Thank you very much.
42:07It's been great. Thank you.
42:10I'm really happy that the time that we've spent with Deborah and Mark
42:14exploring and meeting new people
42:17has helped to transform Northamptonshire
42:19from a county they didn't really know
42:22into a place that they're ready to call home.
42:25We wish them all the best with their search.
42:28Join me next time on Escape To The Country.
42:33Deborah and Mark have lined up further houses to explore
42:36Deborah and Mark have lined up further houses to view
42:39in the areas of Northamptonshire we introduced them to,
42:42including both the market towns of Rhones and Thrapston.
42:46We hope they find their dream countryside home soon.
42:51If you would like to escape to the country in England,
42:54Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and need our help,
42:57why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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