George meets builder Mark Horton who has for years harboured a dream to live in a unique house. With this in mind he bought an 18th century folly with plans to convert it himself into a luxurious family home. On the 'Buildings at Risk' register for ten years Bath Lodge is just a derelict shell, with no access road or utilities. Architect George Clarke is on hand to advise and support, as well as turn detective as he uncovers the history behind this mysterious building. Mark is ready for the challenge, but disaster strikes three months in when the bank pulls his loan.
In this episode, our Restoration Man George meets Gareth, a man adamant that he doesn't want to live in a bog-standard terraced house. Gareth and his wife, Jill, dream of owning a unique home for their family. Despite no previous building experience, Gareth can't resist buying a church in Pembrokeshire, and plans to convert the disused building himself to save money.
Architect George Clarke meets Clive and his wife Jane, who dream of retiring and making their new home in a Grade II listed Anglesey windmill.
Artist Sarah McCombie has owned a Martello tower in Kent since 2004, and ex-army man Barrie Taylor became custodian of a Scottish castle tower in 2005.
George Clarke joins former heavyweight boxer Scott Welch as he plans to convert Thorington Gate Lodge in Suffolk into a weekend retreat so he can spend more time with his father who lives nearby, despite not having set foot inside the building. It soon becomes clear that Scott has a fight on his hands getting planning permission as the project is set to include an ultra-modern glass extension.
George meets Laird Henderson who for years has has wanted to live in a unique home where he can make the most of his lochside surroundings.
Architect George Clarke advises Chris Kelly and Sue Hindle on a project to convert a small cruck-framed house into their first home together. But with four teenage daughters to house, planning permission is needed for a crucial extension to make their dream a reality.
Lisa and Darren Walker have a dream of converting a coach house into a unique home. But it soon becomes clear that the restoration won't be as straightforward as they hoped.
George Clarke advises two families who have bought rare and nationally important buildings in Wales. Simon Hooper and partner Victoria dream of converting an ancient Grade I listed medieval hall into a unique home, but their budget is tight. At the other end of the scale are the Edwards, who have fallen in love with a neglected 70-room mansion, which they're determined to lavishly restore back to its original glory. Both highly ambitious restoration projects prove to be more challenging than their new owners anticipated.
After years of living away from their families, Pete and Nikki have moved back down south to Kent with the dream of restoring a derelict windmill that's been owned by Pete's family for over 100 years. Locally listed, the windmill has been a roofless ruin since 1915, and its tapering structure overlooks an area of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of the county. The build nearly comes unstuck when Nikki, who had recovered from cancer, suddenly becomes unwell again. George is on hand to advise, and support them on their restoration journey as they battle with Nikki's illness.
George meets architect Andy and his girlfriend Ana, who are trying to restore a listed water tower into an uber-modern 21st century home. But at what personal cost? Andy Critchlow surprised his girlfriend Ana Ferguson when he bought a stunning, cylindrical Grade II listed water tower in Congleton, Cheshire, at auction - without even seeing the inside. Andy dreams of converting this building into a cutting-edge 21st century home, which means selling their current property and moving in with his parents during the nine-month build. As a director of his own architectural practice, Andy tackles the build with huge drive and determination. Meanwhile, George goes on a historical mission and discovers how this monumental landmark sitting proudly on a Cheshire hill saved the lives of the people it overlooked.
Scientist Phil Evans and his wife Joanne have taken a huge financial gamble and bought a Grade II-listed, gothic revival parish church in the Eden Valley, aiming to turn it into a dream home. Disaster strikes early on in the build and the implications are huge for their tiny budget. Architect George Clarke is on hand to give them all both practical advice and a reality check when the costs spiral out of control and threaten to halt the project.
George Clarke meets Tim and Emma Verdon, who want to convert an old Victorian brickworks in the heart of rural Oxfordshire into a home. School bursar Tim and teacher Emma have big plans for the unlisted Engine House, which currently is nothing more than four walls and no roof. They enlist George to design a sympathetic extension. Emma gives up work to project manage the build. But living off site and mounting planning issues put immense pressure on them, and they're forced to make some radical decisions. Meanwhile George uncovers some disturbing history about their brickworks.
George revisits two stubborn romantics with their dreams of converting derelict military towers into unique homes. Artist Sarah McCombie has owned a Martello tower in Kent since 2004, and ex-army man Barrie Taylor became custodian of a Scottish castle tower in 2005. Previously, neither had gained planning permission, and George visits each project to see if Sarah and Barrie took on board his advice and turned their restoration dreams into a reality.
George Clarke revisits Simon Hooper and his partner Victoria in Cardiff to catch up on their dream of converting a Grade I listed medieval hall into a unique home. George is keen to see if the family have overcome the challenges of restoring such an ancient building.
Mark Rand and his wife Pat's dreams of converting a water tower on the Settle-Carlisle railway line faces a battle with the planners which threatens to de-rail the whole project. Former Bradford police officer Mark and his wife Pat are fervent enthusiasts for the Settle-Carlisle railway line. It's the couples dream to own part of the line's history, which is why they bought the Victorian Settle station water tower to convert and live in. Sitting beside the station, in what's now an industrial estate, the building hasn't been in use since the 1940s. But Mark wants to bring this Grade II listed building into the 21st century, and has plans to add a glass rooftop extension, seeking advice from architect George Clarke. But have these restoration warriors embarked on a project too ambitious to see through?
George revisits Gareth and his family in their restored Victorian Welsh chapel. Is church living all it's cracked up to be? Four years ago Gareth Williams decided he didn't want to live in a bog-standard terraced house any more. So he bought a derelict church. To save money he decided to do all the restoration work himself and get everything he needed off eBay. George returns to dig deeper into the fascinating history of this ancient building.
Architect George Clarke returns to Ormskirk after two years to see how builder Mark Horton and his family are doing living in their dream home - a former 18th century folly which he restored after he found it on the Buildings at Risk Register. Mark was ready for the challenge, but disaster struck three months in when the bank pulled his loan. Pressures mounted with dramatic consequences for both his health and the build, but he managed to struggle on and finish the project. Now, long after the dust has settled, how are Mark and his family enjoying living in their extraordinary home?
Architect George Clarke returns to a remote 19th century Scottish Ice House after two years to catch up with owner Laird Henderson. George previously helped to realise an ambitious glass extension, but after budget problems and a clash with building control, will Laird have moved on and built the idyllic Loch-side hideaway to match, or will he still be taking in the stunning views from his caravan as he struggles to complete the restoration?
Architect George Clarke catches up with Joanne McGirr and Phil Evans, who risked all to restore a Victorian Gothic church at the foot of the Pennines. Last time George saw them they were teetering on the edge of financial ruin and faced with the agonising decision of whether they should sell the project... Have they been able to keep hold of their dream home?
George meets James and Lois Denning, who inherited an historic estate which has been in James' family for the last 234 years. The castle and stately home that used to belong to his family have been given to the National Trust, so they've decided to convert a stunning and only recently abandoned oast house. George is on hand to advise them with the epic restoration of this beautiful old agricultural building into a grand nine bedroom family home.
Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought a listed, Thomas Telford-designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena plan to convert the church into a holiday home and artist's studio, where they can bring their art students and musician friends to be inspired by the amazing light and rugged, desolate landscape. In restoring this roofless ruin, Keith and Sheena face challenges from the extreme weather and have to keep the neighbours on side while managing the build 400 miles away from their home in Newcastle. Meanwhile architect George Clarke uncovers the church's turbulent history.
It was love at first sight when theatre producer Vanessa Ford Robbins and her partner Nik Huddy saw Longhurst Lodge, a Victorian gate lodge nestled on the boundaries of a country estate in Surrey. This unusual two up, two down has been derelict for nearly 50 years. Nik and Vanessa want to bring this fairy tale building back to life, but they desperately need more living space and face mounting planning issues over extending the Grade II listed building. The couple tackle the project with huge drive and determination, doing all the build work themselves, but living in a caravan on site during winter. George Clarke is on hand to help advise and support the couple and also discovers some of the estate's bloody history.
Four years ago Dave and Margaret came across a picture of a watermill in the north east. The mill had been abandoned for 50 years and they decided to bring it back to life. The couple put their hearts into the restoration, with experienced amateur builder Dave even designing the new mill water-wheel to generate hydro-electric power from the force of the river. George Clarke is on hand to help the couple as they tackle this huge project. But, with floods and Margaret's life-threatening illness to contend with, will they ever achieve their dream of calling this historic building home?
David and Judith Ward take up the challenge of restoring a dilapidated pig barn across the road from their daughter's farmhouse in order to be nearer to their grandchildren. David is a charismatic preacher and has faith that even in this challenging market they will manage to sell their old home, pay back the loan and raise the funds to finish the restoration. George Clarke is there from the start, giving practical advice and guidance. But will their hopes for a happy retirement in the bosom of their family ever become reality?
Clarke returns to Berneray to catch up with Keith and Sheenagh McIntyre, and discovers their renovation won a prestigious award from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
The new series begins with Alison and Matthew Grey, two designers form London looking for a new place to live out of town. The couple love industrial buildings and have purchased a pumping station, intent on turning it into a design haven. But with costs mounting, as they continue to delay decision making, the couple are in danger of having to refinance in order to finish the build.
Alan Appleby and his wife Dora might be restoration experts, but they've never taken on a project as ambitious as this. They've saved a flint mill in Stone, Staffordshire that's on the verge of falling down. Alan is a building surveyor, and shouldn't have a problem fixing the massive structural damage. But his passion for old buildings soon takes over and they end up ploughing everything they have into this build. George Clarke helps them every step of the way and uncovers its unique history and the link between this building and the world renowned pottery and ceramics of Josiah Wedgwood.
Having never lived together before, architect Neil Worrell and his partner Jackie Robinson decided to cement their relationship by purchasing a forgotten church in the picture perfect fishing town of Brixham in Devon. What began as a project that would bring them closer together becomes the ultimate test as the restoration pushes them to their limits. George Clarke brings his own design expertise to the project to help them realise their dream; and at the same time discovers the rich history that links this church directly to Brixham's celebrated fishing community.
Recession-hit builders Ian and Jayne Hall Edwards face a massive battle converting a huge derelict Victorian school in a Welsh hillside village in Carmarthenshire into both a place of business and a home. Having failed to win a grant to help finance the build, they are left battling through harsh winters while living in a caravan on site, and with their family business hanging in the balance.
Marco and Kath Walker take over a pair of Grade II listed 17th and 18th century cow barns from their local farmer in Wellington, Herefordshire. The barns are tumbling down, the couple have their two young children in tow, they've never done anything like this before and are complete restoration novices, and the project is beset with problems from the start. George offers much needed advice throughout the build and discovers how these buildings and the surrounding farm helped to revolutionise cattle farming in the UK.
Furniture maker Jamie Brown has big ideas about turning a colossal and historic 15,000 square foot RAF bunker from World War II into his new home. However, with the Nottinghamshire bunker totally encased in earth, with no natural light, and the back section submerged in water, Jamie's wife, who is about to have their first baby, isn't so sure. With its fascinating history and jaw-dropping engineering, George helps Jamie tackle this huge undertaking and discovers the important role it played in the blitz.
George catches up with Keith and Sheena McIntyre who were hoping to restore an isolated Telford church Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought a listed, Thomas Telford-designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena plan to convert the church into a holiday home and artist's studio, where they can bring their art students and musician friends to be inspired by the amazing light and rugged, desolate landscape. In restoring this roofless ruin, Keith and Sheena face challenges from the extreme weather and have to keep the neighbours on side while managing the build 400 miles away from their home in Newcastle. Meanwhile architect George Clarke uncovers the church's turbulent history.
George returns to Thrum Mill to meet Dave and Margaret Heldey who have battled through flooding and serious illness to restore one of Northumberland's most stunning but abandoned water mills
First of New Series. Architect George Clarke returns with more projects to transform neglected historic buildings into unique homes. Russell Edwards and Nadia Smith have put everything into turning a derelict farmhouse in the Shropshire countryside into a family home. They are determined to restore the 18th-century building to its former glory, but their high standards soon cost them dearly, and after two winters in a caravan, illness and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm the pair. George helps with the design and hard graft and investigates the history behind this mysterious half-timber-framed building.
George Clarke meets Jim and Bee Goody, who have taken a financial gamble with their project to turn a derelict Tudor revival school in Essex into their dream country home.
Justin and Charlotte have a dramatic vision for transforming a derelict World War II airfield tower in the Scottish Highlands. But just fixing the windows takes nearly half the budget.
Yorkshire couple Carol and Majid embark on an ambitious adventure, transforming a brick water tower into a five-storey home. But unexpected costs and legal problems hit the project.
George catches up with Nik and Vanessa and their immaculate 19th century gatehouse cottage that was so tiny they couldn't fit a proper bathroom inside
George catches up with Ian and Jayne, who bought a large derelict Victorian school in the valleys of west Wales to convert into a home and a site for their new eco business
George Clarke join Colin and Emma who buy a Edwardian Baptist Church in Oxenhope and want to turn it into a five-bedroom family home with a meagre budget.
George joins Lee Head, who is attempting to convert a Victorian railway station in Northumberland into his family home.
George Clarke is in Pembrokeshire to help restore a Georgian Gazebo Tower and make it a livable property.
George Clarke helps a couple in Harrogate convert two crumbling church buildings into a pair of beautiful homes.
