Amazing old buildings in the UK are being revitalized under new ownership, often turning them into homes. This includes everything from grand mansions to dilapidated pumping stations, churches, and schools that have been abandoned for years. The challenges faced by renovators can be significant due to their age and condition. Architectural research is conducted on each property, placing it within a historical context alongside the building's occupants and benefactors' genealogies. This research not only gives the buildings architectural style and renovations but also imbues them with a more human element. Caroline Quentin narrates the episodes as she visits these sites, interviewing families involved in the projects and commenting on their progress. Historian Dr Kate Williams examines the people connected to each building while Architectural Expert Kieran Long provides historical context for materials, processes, and style. Not all projects are fully realized by the end of an episode; sometimes they're revisited later.
Aired: Jul 5, 2011St Thomas a Becket church in Somerset is on the heritage critical list and in...
