Jules Hudson, best known for presenting Escape to the Country, spent nearly 20 years in a cottage that cost him less than £30,000 before moving to his current 16th-century farmhouse in Herefordshire. The property expert purchased the derelict cottage in 1997 for £29,500, located in the Welsh village of Llanddewi Brefi, which was famously featured in the BBC sitcom Little Britain.
A leap of faith in the Welsh countryside
Speaking to Country Life, Hudson revealed that his first home was in "the middle of nowhere," but he knew the region well after studying archaeology at the University of Wales, Lampeter. Following graduation, he worked as an archaeologist when a friend told him a cottage had come on the market in Llanddewi.
"It was a three-up, two-down derelict stone cottage on the edge of the village, but affordable — it only cost £29,500 in 1997," Hudson told Country Life. "People often ask me what the perfect house is, and I believe it's the one that makes you want to embrace its imperfections."
Renovation challenges and advice
The BBC presenter admitted he would not recommend choosing a derelict property after undertaking a series of renovations. "At no point did I have a survey, and I had to get a scheme that underwrote the mortgage," he noted.
"Early on, I looked at the four walls with no roof and wondered if I'd bitten off more than I could chew, but I found a brilliant builder called George, and he and his team did a great job. Transforming it was a joy, and after the house, I turned my attention to the garden. You can spend a fortune on a property, but if you don't frame it with a decent garden, you're missing out."
Moving on to the Golden Valley
Hudson decided to sell the £29,000 cottage after meeting and falling for his wife, Tania. By 2012, the couple had set their sights on a property bordering the Golden Valley, converting the two-up, two-down farmhouse into a five-bedroom retreat.
"The house was brilliantly saved from demolition back in the 1970s by a very enterprising couple," Hudson told The Times. "They laid out the gardens, then went around preserving the house. It was livable when we bought it, but it was very tired."
A curious discovery in the attic
More than a decade later, Hudson continues to explore the history of his home. In February 2025, he delighted fans after discovering a "curious old door" that was "at least 500 years old" in his attic, sharing the find on Instagram.
"There! What you get is a glimpse of the ancient structure of the roof," he said while opening the door. "These old beams – some of these we've had to replace when we fixed the roof originally."
"That wall's interesting," he continued, pointing the camera. "That's probably early to mid Victorian, replacing the original timber facade on that side of the house [...] but look at the floor," Hudson remarked, suggesting the floorboards were likely made from elm.
