Dave Myers visits is in South Yorkshire to visit one of Doncaster's finest buildings, the Mansion House. One of only five ever built in the UK, it was designed to attract the cream of society to Doncaster. The Grade I-listed building is undergoing a £300,000 renovation as the roof is in need of repair and the facade has lost its sparkle. It was construction firm William Anelay's first commission in the 1740s and they are back on site to make the repairs, with Dave's help. Dave also discovers why Doncaster was a top destination for nobility in the 18th century, visiting its famous racecourse, home to one of Britain's most prestigious horse races, the St Ledgers Cup.
Dave Myers visits Wakefield Cathedral in West Yorkshire, taking in the architectural masterpiece as it's brought into the 21st century. Dave gets a closer look at what the builders unearthed beneath the cathedral's floors and has a once-in-a-lifetime chance of opening a time capsule found during restoration. He also helps the builders to restore stone carvings that make up the elaborately decorated Quire. With Wakefield having had a booming wool trade in Tudor times, Dave puts his sheep-herding skills to the test.
Dave Myers visits Dartmoor in Devon to help to restore a fascinating 20th-century building, the spectacular Castle Drogo. Dave reveals the secrets behind the castle, which was the last to be built in Britain. He travels back in time, working shire horses on a 19th-century farm and helps the builders repair the roof which has been leaking since the castle was finished.
Dave Myers is in Clifton, one of Bristol's oldest and most affluent suburbs, to visit the Grade II-listed Clifton Catholic Cathedral. Built in the 1970s, this example of Brutalist architecture has been plagued with leaks since it opened. It is now undergoing a £1.9 million renovation project, and Dave helps to remove and replace the worn-out lead on the roof. He gets an architectural insight from one of the members of the original design team and finds out what happened to the Pro-Cathedral it replaced. Away from the restoration work, Dave gains a bird's-eye view of one of the most famous suspension bridges in the world.
Dave Myers visits Wilton's Music Hall in London to look at a restoration project with a difference, as the builders have to make it look like they have never been. In the 1870s, there were over 300 music halls in London alone, Wilton's is one of the few left standing. Dave discovers why variety shows at these outrageous establishments were so special and that Victorian society wasn't as polite as you'd think. Finally, Dave lets his hair down and brings his family along for a good old-fashioned cockney knees-up!
Dave Myers is in Bradford, West Yorkshire, helping to restore the jewel of Bradford's architectural heritage, the spectacular Victorian City Hall. Dave gets up close and personal with Britain's monarchs and discovers the secrets behind the stonemasons' mark. He helps the builders restore this historical building and takes a barge down the Leeds Liverpool canal with a historian who unveils the secrets behind Bradford's wealth during the industrial revolution. The City Hall was built to house the councillors of Bradford and construction team William Anelay want to restore it to its former glory. Dave not only helps give it a good scrub, he gives the statuesque angel standing just beneath the clock tower its golden horn back.
Dave Myers visits the Archbishop of Canterbury's London HQ, Lambeth Palace. He explores the incredible archive, discovers the human side of Britain's greatest kings and queens and has a look at Lambeth's 'loony left' political heritage by admiring its street art. Dave helps to restore the Great Hall, which has hosted monarchs, archbishops and statesmen over the centuries. The current building was built in the 1660s after it was destroyed in the English Civil War and has one of the most impressive hammerbeam ceilings in the country. Dave and the builders can't wait to bring it back to life. Dave then indulges in some Thames-side time travel courtesy of local mudlarkers and prepares for a special topping out ceremony.
Dave Myers visits one of Manchester's oldest buildings, its magnificent cathedral. Dating back to the middle ages, the Grade I-listed building is undergoing a £280,000 restoration, and Dave learns about the traditional methods used to repair the worn-out lead on the roof as well as uncovering some tricks of the building trade. On a trip around the cathedral, Dave explores the hidden gems and priceless documents housed there. He also takes a tour of one of the oldest public libraries in the UK, Chetham Library. Home to manuscripts dating back to the 13th century, Dave finds out about its revolutionary past.
Dave Myers visits the Wedgewood Institute in Staffordshire. He helps restore the iconic building built in 1865, in honour of famous potter Josiah Wedgewood. Derelict for nearly a decade, it was a centre for educating the local working men, running courses in science, business and the arts. Dave examines the facade, with its intricate terracotta panels that decorate the building. He discovers the magic of Britain's ceramic industry, visiting Middleport Pottery which uses traditional methods. Dave decorates some pottery and finds that it is not as easy it looks.
Dave Myers visits Pontefract Castle to help builders restore the remains for future generations. He does some long overdue gardening and goes into battle with the Roundheads and Cavaliers. The castle was known as the 'key to the north' for almost 600 years, until it was destroyed during the English Civil War in 1648. It once hosted Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Charles I and boasts one of history's most feared dungeons. Dave experiences torture 17th-century-style and uncovers the mystery of what happened to the castle stone, once the castle itself had been demolished.
This time, Dave Myers is in Roker in Sunderland in the north east of England to help restore an iconic super structure - Roker Lighthouse and its 600-metre pier. This guiding light over Sunderland's harbour and its pier is in desperate need of an overhaul and builders are working hard to get it back to its original form. Inside the lighthouse, Dave discovers the perils of restoring a round building, climbs to the very top to polish its lantern and goes underground into a tunnel built to keep the lighthouse keeper safe when the weather got treacherous. On Sunderland's docks, Dave gets to grips with a monster crane and he puts his skills to the test as he prepares a get-together with the mayor and Roker's locals to commemorate the opening of the lighthouse and its pier.
This time, Dave Myers is in Stockport, Greater Manchester, at the stunning manor house Bramall Hall. Owned by Stockport Council, this isn't your typical council house. Hairy Builder Dave discovers how this Tudor building is being turned into a top-notch visitor attraction. He looks around this impressive hall and comes across secret drawings - cartoons that date back to medieval times! Dave also gets to grips with a bit of woodwork, helping to restore one of the hundreds of amazing windows in this fabulous hall.
In this episode of Hairy Builder, Dave Myers is at the Victorian beach resort of New Brighton - just a ferry ride across the Mersey from Liverpool - visiting its impressive Catholic church, nicknamed the Dome of Home. A symbol of hope to sailors returning from the battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War, the church is now crumbling and in desperate need of repairs. It was built using revolutionary materials in the 1930s, but they have not survived the test of time and it is now undergoing massive repairs to make it water tight. As well as helping out the builders, Dave will be discovering the fascinating story behind how such an impressive church - with its giant green dome and lavish interiors - was built during the Great Depression. Away from the restoration work, Dave will be crossing the Mersey and discovering the secrets that lie beneath Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral.
This time, Dave visits Ampleforth in North Yorkshire - one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country, with an onsite monastery. He hangs out with the monks, helps restore the Yorkshire equivalent of Hogwarts and learns an extraordinary tale of mice and men. The school has the largest collection of Mouseman furniture in the world! Ampleforth has many buildings designed by renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and today, Dave will be working with the builders to restore art deco building Bolton House to its former glory. Once it is finished, the monks will be moving in and they visit Dave, hard at work, before whisking him off for a cider in their orchard at the end of the day.
This time, Hairy Builder Dave Myers is in Leicester, helping to restore one of the Midlands' most historically important treasures - the fantastic 18th-century Friars Mill. This derelict wool mill held great prominence in Leicestershire during the 20th century as one of Britain's leading textile factory, but today it is being brought back to life and transformed into offices. Dave discovers the builders are keeping sympathetic-to-the-original architecture so that it looks the same as when it was built. He takes a boat ride on the River Soar with a team of eco warriors and helps clean up the lifeblood of the mill. And to complete the renovation work, Dave puts the mill's iconic chimney and cupola back in its place.