Nick Knowles meets Trisha and Ian, whose home appears to be a two-story cottage but has four floors and an odd layout.
A young IT worker tackles the renovation of his mid-terrace ex-miner’s cottage near Manchester. As this DIY novice attempts to transform the drab décor of his home, Nick helps out with some great design ideas and encourages him to restore and reinstate all those original features. But the real story here is the area's past dependence on coal, and it is the intriguing connection between the house's history and our budding DIYer's own ancestry that makes this project truly personal.
Former army captain Mark Mathews and his wife, actress and style journalist Maria, have moved with their two children from fashionable Fulham into a Georgian mill house in sleepy Somerset. Builders are desperately trying to make the house habitable whilst the Mathews rent nearby. Previous owners had stripped the house of all its original features, so Mark and Maria are on a mission to restore some grandeur. They plan to replace floorboards, fireplaces and chandeliers. Whilst work on the house races on, Nick and the team explore the history of the millhouse. They turn their attentions to the ruined mill in the back garden and find some unusual artefacts that cast light on the property's past. Meanwhile, inside the house, Maria has always been intrigued by the strange ornate staircase. Could it be a highly prized Chinese Chippendale? As the team reveal the truth of its origins, the lives of the Georgian owners and their unusual influence on the architecture of the house itself emerge.
Divorcee Emma House is a museum designer who moved to Pear Tree Cottage in Warwickshire two years ago. She loves interior design and has a passion for fabrics and quilting, so the house is designed immaculately. But there is still more to do. Dating the house has been guesswork so far, but estimates suggest it’s between 200 and 500 years old. Emma has made lots of little discoveries in the floorboards, including a little milk token from 1964 which has the name and address of the little boy who owned it and lived there. She would love to reunite it with the original owner. Initial work on the house has also revealed other small objects under the floor boards – from little toy soldiers, blacksmith nails and a tin of cigarettes dating back to an exhibition in 1894.
Colin and Emma Bannon live in a beautiful, white Regency villa straight out of Mary Poppins. But the interior is straight out of a 1970s disco, complete with mirror ball, remote control wood burner in the drawing room and coloured-glass tiles where a disco Jacuzzi once sat. As they pull up floorboards and expose the original walls, the house starts to surprise the Bannon's with little glimpses of the past. Not only do they reveal the home’s true history, but Colin finds out something about the architect who built it that links back to his own past in Canada.
24-year-old Lucy Warren and her sister, Lena, are restoring their Victorian terrace in a village just outside Bristol to its original period charm. They plan to add their own twist – a shared love of the decorative designs of Art Nouveau – but must keep within a strict budget they have set themselves. Under the guidance of their restoration-enthusiast mum, Lucy and Lena have finished the living room and bedroom and have stripped floorboards, reinstalled sash windows and splashed out £100 on some treasured William Morris feature wallpaper. Lucy also owns a sizeable garden. The deeds suggest that in the early 1900s, the adjacent plot of land was bought for £35, but that this land now lies unused. A few old finds hidden in the undergrowth are ripe for salvaging, not least a roll top Victorian bath.
They currently live in the Tan Hill Inn, Yorkshire, the highest pub in Britain (1,732ft above sea level), but it doesn’t have enough land for Mike’s beloved collection of vintage tractors. Their new home is a Grade II listed farmhouse, with a walled garden, an old granary and the foundations of other previous phases visible. With the help of documents from the 19th century, and old photos and memories from the local community, Mike and Tracy are soon able to piece together the history of their home - in the early 20th century, the upstairs room was used as a local ballroom!
After five house sales fell through, and they rejected this house without even going upstairs, they surprised themselves by falling in love with it on a second visit. Built in 1961 in Boverton, just outside Llantwit Major, the house is a great example of a 1960s suburban structure complete with original features. The family are busy building a large two story extension to the side of the house, which will completely transform the look of it from the outside and give them lots more living space inside. Restoring a house from this period brings unique challenges with it, so the Wilkes's find out who lived there originally and even meet some of the previous occupants who are able share their memories of the house.
Emma and Andy Ratcliffe live in a beautiful old schoolhouse just outside Bath, which they bought just over a year ago in order to escape the suburban rat race. Research reveals that the school house was built in 1860 when national schools were introduced. But what was it like when it was a school? And who were the previous occupiers since the property ceased to be a school? Currently it has laminate flooring, so are there undiscovered flagstones hidden beneath?
Pete and Liza Saunders live in a classic Georgian townhouse in central Bath, built in 1774 by John Wood (who also designed the famous pump rooms and the crescent in the city). Previously divided up for student accommodation, and furnished with 1970s decor, the Saunders plan to restore the house to its former glory. So far they have completely restored the drawing room with Georgian features, but a pair of shoes left behind a wall presents a mystery. The Saunders also find that one of the bedrooms has a sealed up chimney recess, complete with an old-fashioned door that looks like it has never been opened. What will they find inside?
More property mysteries uncovered with Nick Knowles. He travels to the Kent countryside to visit a couple who are renovating a former pub.
In Newport, he restores a Victorian pile to its former grandeur.
Nick Knowles follows a Wallingford couple as they take on the project of a lifetime, restoring an unloved and much neglected period property.
A Bristol couple are in a quandary over how to make the most of their magnificent Edwardian home.
In Portishead, he reveals that a couple's Victorian cottage has more history than they thought.
A London couple fanatical about vintage style are keen to create their own art deco paradise.
He visits an industrial village near Swansea, where he unlocks the secrets of a 1908 house.
A couple's restoration of a Victorian wreck near the Severn Bridge reveals many hidden treasures.
The Cosgroves want to restore their beautiful Victorian house in the heart of Bath to its former glory.
Nick Knowles travels to the Somerset Levels where Sue and Bill Sutton are renovating a 17th Century barn at their picturesque cottage.
Nick helps Tim and Melissa investigate the history of their cottage in Ragged Appleshaw.
Nick helps Tim and Clair investigate the history of their Edwardian Semi-detached house in Portishead.
Nick helps John and Margaret investigate the history of their Georgian house in Bristol.
Nick helps Amanda and Steve investigate the history of their Victorian house in Cotteridge.
Nick helps Abby and Chris investigate the history of their Victorian flat in Redlands.
Nick helps Shairon investigate the history of her Canadian timber house in Yatton.
Nick helps Graham and Jo investigate the history of their timber-framed farmhouse in Wolverhampton.
Nick helps Steve and Kath investigate the history of their Victorian house in Bucksworth.
Nick helps Andrea and Paul investigate the history of their farmhouse in Ipsley.
Nick helps Maria and Lee investigate the history of their farmhouse in Stafforshire.