The Restoration Man
| The Restoration Man | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Home improvement |
| Presented by | George Clarke |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 45[1] |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | Tiger Aspect Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 14 March 2010 – 23 March 2017 |
The Restoration Man is a British home improvement television series presented by George Clarke. It first aired on Channel 4 on 14 March 2010.
Synopsis
[edit]Architect George Clarke travels around Great Britain profiling people restoring historically and architecturally significant buildings.[2] The series typically features people aiming to convert non-residential structures – including churches, water towers and windmills – into homes.[3] Each episode chronicles the difficulties the owners face during the conversion, including restrictions in place for listed buildings. Clarke researches each building's history and architecture, interviews people who previously lived or worked there, and shares his findings with the new owners.
Episodes
[edit]Series 1
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Bath Lodge" | Ormskirk, Lancashire | Jenny Byrom | 21 March 2010 | folly | |
|
The series begins with a Gothic Revival folly in Lancashire that was rumoured to be a bath lodge. | ||||||
| 2 | "Llanreithan Church" | Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire | Jenny Byrom | 28 March 2010 | church[4] | |
|
Gareth and Jill Williams buy a disused medieval church in Wales. The 15th-century building must first be excavated by archaeologists – with the Williams covering the cost at £600 a day. | ||||||
| 3 | "Melin Newydd Windmill" | Anglesey | Jenny Byrom | 4 April 2010 | windmill[5] | |
|
Clive, an electrical engineer, aims to restore an 1833 windmill on the island of Anglesey and turn it into a vacation home for him and his wife, Jane, who is recovering from cancer. Problems include rotting beams and damage from storms, and Clive's motivation wanes when Jane's cancer returns. | ||||||
| 4 | "Towers" | Kent / East Renfrewshire | Lionel Mill | 11 April 2010 | Martello tower / Keep | |
|
Clarke visits with two people set on restoring two old towers: a Martello tower in Kent and the 15th-century Caldwell Tower in Scotland. | ||||||
| 5 | "Field House" | Pilling, Lancashire | Lionel Mill | 18 April 2010 | cottage | |
| 6 | "Thorington Gate Lodge" | Thorington, Suffolk | Lionel Mill | 25 April 2010 | gatehouse | |
|
Retired boxer Scott Welch rescues a gate lodge, the only remaining building on a demolished country estate. | ||||||
| 7 | "Coach House" | Hankham, East Sussex | Lionel Mill | 2 May 2010 | carriage house | |
|
Lisa and Darren Walker convert a Grade II-listed 18th-century coach house into a home. Converting agricultural structures requires special consideration, as these buildings typically have never had water or electricity. | ||||||
| 8 | "Ice House" | Crinan, Argyll and Bute | Lionel Mill | 9 May 2010 | ice house | |
|
Laird Henderson restores an 1833 ice house, used in the booming western Scottish salmon industry. Clarke visits Petworth House to see an extravagant 18th-century ice house, built solely for the Duke of Somerset's family to indulge in ice cream. | ||||||
| 9 | "Medieval Hall and Mansion" | Cardiff / Aberystwyth | Lionel Mill | 16 May 2010 | hall house / mansion | |
Series 2
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Reeds Windmill" | Kingston, Kent | Emma Slack | 5 January 2012 | windmill | |
|
A couple, Pete and Nikki, attempt to restore a windmill that has been in Pete's family for a century. However, midway through the conversion, Nikki is diagnosed with terminal cancer and given months to live. | ||||||
| 2 | "Congleton Water Tower" | Congleton, Cheshire | Emma Slack | 12 January 2012 | water tower | |
| 3 | "Gothic Church" | Gamblesby, Cumbria | Jonathan Barker | 19 January 2012 | church | |
|
A couple take on the restoration of a 19th-century Victorian Church. To save money, their brother-in-law acts as project manager, but he's inexperienced with restoration. Meanwhile the bank denies their request for an additional mortgage, and extreme weather causes problems. | ||||||
| 4 | "Engine House" | Uffington, Oxfordshire | Emma Slack | 26 January 2012 | brickworks | |
|
A couple renovate a 19th-century brickworks, the only remaining building from what was once a thriving Victorian industry in the village. | ||||||
| 5 | "Towers Revisit" | Kent / East Renfrewshire | Emma Slack | 2 February 2012 | Martello tower, Keep | |
|
Clarke returns to the towers in Kent and Scotland (Caldwell Tower), neither of which had received planning approval during his first visit. | ||||||
| 6 | "Medieval Hall" | Cardiff, Glamorgan | Emma Slack | 9 February 2012 | hall house | |
| 7 | "Settle Water Tower" | Settle, North Yorkshire | Jonathan Barker | 16 February 2012 | water tower[6] | |
|
Mark and Pat Rand convert an 1876 water tower into a residence. The Grade II-listed water tower lies on the historic Settle-Carlisle Line and has been out of use since the 1960s. | ||||||
| 8 | "Llanreithan Church Revisit" | Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire | Rob Farquar | 19 June 2012 | church | |
| 9 | "Bath Lodge Revisit" | Ormskirk, Lancashire | Oliver Wilson | 16 August 2012 | folly | |
| 10 | "Ice House Revisit" | Crinan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland | Oliver Wilson | 23 August 2012 | ice house | |
| 11 | "Gothic Church Revisit" | Gamblesby, Cumbria | Oliver Wilson | 27 August 2012 | church | |
Series 3
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Finchcocks Oast" | Riseden, Kent | Unknown | 27 December 2012 | oast house | |
| 2 | "Telford Church" | Berneray, Outer Hebrides | Unknown | 3 January 2013 | church | |
|
A Newcastle couple, Keith and Sheenagh McIntyre, hope to restore a ruined church designed by Thomas Telford on the small island of Berneray, and turn it into an art studio and vacation home. Only the stone walls are left of the church, built in 1829. The extreme weather causes problems as strong winds shred the insulation and blows debris all over the island, angering local residents, and the McIntyres are dealt a major blow as the custom windows ordered from a Scandinavian company don't fit. | ||||||
| 3 | "Longhurst Lodge" | Cranleigh, Surrey | Unknown | 10 January 2013 | gatehouse[7] | |
|
A couple renovate a tiny Victorian gatehouse. | ||||||
| 4 | "Thrum Mill" | Rothbury, Northumberland | Unknown | 17 January 2013 | watermill | |
|
Dave and Margaret Hedley take on an old mill, which they plan to not only restore, but get working again to generate hydroelectric power for the house. Clarke discovers the first mills on the River Coquet were built by the Earl of Northumberland to earn income to pay his steep fine after he was accused of conspiring in the Gunpowder Plot. | ||||||
| 5 | "Pig Barn" | Rufford Abbey, Nottinghamshire | Oliver Wilson | 24 January 2013 | barn[8] | |
|
A retired couple renovate a dilapidated pig barn that formerly belonged to Rufford Abbey. | ||||||
| 6 | "Settle Water Tower Revisit" | Settle, North Yorkshire | Jonathan Barker | 31 January 2013 | water tower | |
Series 4
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pumping Station" | Cheshunt, Hertfordshire | Larry Walford | 7 January 2014 | pumping station | |
|
Alison and Matthew Grey sell their London flat to buy an 1888 Victorian pumping station in Hertfordshire. After spending £750,000 to buy the station, they are left with a budget of only £60,000. | ||||||
| 2 | "Flint Mill" | Stone, Staffordshire | Larry Walford | 14 January 2014 | mill | |
|
Alan and Dora Appleby, who are experienced with restoring listed buildings, decide to restore a dilapidated flint mill into a retirement home. However, the cost of restoring the 18th-century mill ends up much higher than the Applebys had budgeted. | ||||||
| 3 | "Fisherman's Church" | Brixham, Devon | Larry Walford | 21 January 2014 | church[9] | |
|
Neil and Jackie attempt to convert an abandoned church into their family home. The church, built in 1874 and deconsecrated in 1977, has suffered water damage over the years and needs a new roof. | ||||||
| 4 | "Welsh School" | Pencader, Carmarthenshire | Larry Walford | 28 January 2014 | schoolhouse | |
|
A couple experienced in restoration take on a derelict school. With little money in the budget, they plan on doing the renovation themselves, and ultimately stretch themselves to the limit. Meanwhile, Clarke looks into the school's history and organises a reunion of its former students and teachers. | ||||||
| 5 | "Cow Barn" | Wellington, Herefordshire | Larry Walford | 5 February 2014 | barn | |
|
A young couple with no experience in restoration try to renovate a Grade II-listed barn that dates from the late 17th/early 18th century. | ||||||
| 6 | "RAF Bunker" | Watnall, Nottinghamshire | Jonathan Barker | 12 February 2014 | bunker[10] | |
|
Jamie and Jane Brown buy a World War II bunker to convert into a bed and breakfast. The bunker, which has been empty for more than 50 years, has no electricity or windows, and is flooded. | ||||||
| 7 | "Telford Church Revisit" | Berneray, Outer Hebrides | Larry Walford | 19 February 2014 | church | |
|
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.[11] | ||||||
| 8 | "Thrum Mill Revisit" | Rothbury, Northumberland | Larry Walford | 26 February 2014 | mill | |
|
Clarke returns to Northumberland to see the 17th-century mill restored by Dave and Margaret Hedley, who now have the mill running again to provide power. | ||||||
Series 5
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Shropshire Farmhouse" | Wem, Shropshire | Lawrence Walford | 7 January 2015 | farmhouse[12] | |
|
First-time restorers Russell and Nadia Smith renovate a Grade II-listed farmhouse on a tight budget. George Clarke tries to date the property, that has a timber-frame back, typical of the 16th and 17th centuries, and a Georgian brick front typical of the 18th and 19th centuries. | ||||||
| 2 | "Tudor Revival School" | Great Braxted, Essex | Lawrence Walford | 14 January 2015 | schoolhouse[13] | |
|
Jim and Bee Goody purchase a 19th-century schoolhouse to convert into a country home. Jim is frustrated by the restrictions on the Grade II-listed property, and they're forced to max their credit cards to get by when their old house doesn't sell. | ||||||
| 3 | "HMS Owl" | Fearn Airfield, Ross and Cromarty | Larry Walford | 21 January 2015 | airfield tower | |
|
A couple takes on a very unusual renovation project: restoring an air traffic control tower from a World War II airfield. Clarke tracks down veterans who trained for combat missions at the airfield. | ||||||
| 4 | "Pannal Water Tower" | Pannal, North Yorkshire | Larry Wolford | 28 January 2015 | water tower | |
|
Carol and Majid Nadry buy an unusual water tower in Yorkshire. The building is not listed, but the property's "ransom strip" proves costly: £70,000. | ||||||
| 5 | "Longhurst Lodge Revisit" | Cranleigh, Surrey | Emma Slack, Jonathan Barker, and Oliver Wilson | 4 February 2015 | gatehouse | |
| 6 | "Welsh School Revisit" | Pencader, Carmarthenshire | Lawrence Walford | 11 February 2015 | schoolhouse | |
Series 6
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Baptist Church" | Oxenhope, West Yorkshire | Robert Marsden | 7 January 2016 | Church | |
|
Colin and Emma Hewes convert a disused Edwardian church into a family home.[14] | ||||||
| 2 | "Victorian Railway Station" | Northumberland | Oliver Wilson and Larry Walford | 14 January 2016 | Railway Station | |
|
George joins Lee Head, who is attempting to convert a Victorian railway station in Northumberland into his family home. | ||||||
| 3 | "Georgian Gazebo Tower" | Pembroke | Robert Marsden | 21 January 2016 | Gazebo tower | |
|
George Clarke is in Pembrokeshire to help restore a Georgian Gazebo Tower and make it a livable property. | ||||||
| 4 | "Methodist Church and Sunday School" | Harrogate | Robert Marsden | 28 January 2016 | Church and sunday school | |
|
George Clarke helps a couple in Harrogate convert two crumbling church buildings into a pair of beautiful homes. | ||||||
| 5 | "Harrogate Revisit 2016" | Pannal, Harrogate | Larry Walford | 31 March 2016 | Water Tower | |
|
George Clarke returns to Harrogate to see how Carol and Majid Nadry have finished converting their brick water tower into their dream home | ||||||
Series 7
[edit]| Episode | Title | Location | Directed by | Original air date | Structure Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Berkshire Pumping Station" | Newbury, Berkshire | Unknown | 5 January 2017 | Pumping Station | |
|
Young couple Steven Crame and Marina Bacchelli transform a 1930s pumping station into a modern four-bed home. | ||||||
| 2 | "Cheshire Water Tower" | Cheshire | Larry Wolford | 12 January 2017 | Water Tower | |
|
A Cheshire couple turn an 85 foot art deco water tower into a six-storey house | ||||||
| 3 | "Lancashire Water Filtration Plant" | Lancaster, Lancashire | Unknown | 19 January 2017 | Water Filtration Plant | |
|
Matt Whittle and his father-in-law-to-be Mike Readfern pool their resources to convert an enormous water filtration plant into a pair of semi-detached houses sharing an internal garden atrium | ||||||
| 4 | "Church Hall Barn 2017" | Broxted, Essex | Robert Marsden | 26 January 2017 | Church Hall Barn | |
|
Jude McKelvey wants to restore a dilapidated but listed 17th-century barn to its former glory, while also creating a family home to share with her two boys | ||||||
| 5 | "Methodist Church & Sunday School (Revisited)" | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | Highend on the World | 23 March 2017 | Methodist Church | |
References
[edit]- ^ "The Restoration Man". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Restoration Man George Clarke goes behind the scenes at Glasgow School of Art". The Herald. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Rahman, Miran (13 August 2015). "End in sight for Restoration Man couple restoring disused chapel". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Fishguard couple on Channel 4's Restoration Man". Western Telegraph. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Owen, Cathy (27 March 2013). "Jonathan Creek fan Clive Bolton spent eight years restoring a Welsh windmill but now after his wife died he can't bear to move in". Wales Online. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Couple restore former Settle water tower into new home". Craven Herald Pioneer. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Cranleigh lodge given Restoration Man treatment". 2 July 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Dream home bid on Channel Four show". Nottingham Post. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Forgotten Brixham church star of TV show Restoration Man". Torquay Herald Express. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Restoration Man: Secret bunker is given stunning TV makeover". Nottingham Post. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Weatherall, Nicola (5 January 2013). "Restoration Man George Clarke visits house of God". The Journal. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ Dean, Will (8 January 2015). "The Restoration Man, TV review: A wrecked Grade II-listed cottage is transformed into a cosy (and expensive) family home". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Watkinson, Will (13 January 2015). "Old Schoolhouse on Braxted Park Road to feature on Channel 4's Restoration Man". Essex Chronicle. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Rahman, Miran (7 January 2016). "Project to convert disused Oxenhope church into family home will be on Restoration Man". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 8 January 2016.