John Craven and Charlotte Smith are at Audley End House in Essex, one of the finest Jacobean houses in the UK. They may arrive in grand style but are quickly despatched to the servants’ entrance to roll up their sleeves and muck in with winter cleaning and maintenance. As well as discovering the provenance of some of the house’s eclectic collection of thousands of artefacts, John discovers the intricacies of cleaning delicate seashells while Charlotte finds out why skimmed milk works a treat on flagstone flooring. There’s an ancient vine to tame as well as Charlotte’s fear of horses as she takes on groom duties in the stables. Adam Henson is busy making sure his animals are in the finest of fettle to get through a cold winter, and Charlotte reveals the trials and tribulations of the rural midwife.