13yrs ago the BBC aired a wonderful series called Restoration, followed by a second series a year later & a third two years after that. They drew attention to the plight of many historic buildings across the UK with a substantial grant for the restoration of the winning building

While sorting out my books on heritage and architecture I came across the two books pictured above & it got me thinking did anyone else watch this? Did you @markebaker ? & more importantly what happened to the buildings in the series. So as I have plenty of time on my hands

I thought I would have a look into the buildings featured. Please note at this point I haven’t started so it could be a depressing read or it could be a positive one. We will find out.

1/ @PoltimoreHouse in the South West. Poltimore progressed to the final but sadly didn’t win the funds. In the hands of the Poltimore House Trust the house is heading in the right direction but as with any historic building always in need of as big a pot of cash as possible.

2/ @ArnosValeCem This beautiful Grade II* listed historic cemetery did not progress through to the final but has since been awarded a grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund which has enabled some restoration work though more is needed as some buildings and monuments are still at risk

3/ Whitfield's Tabernacle is a Grade I listed chapel, regarded as the birthplace of the Methodist movement. Originally built in the 18th Century the site has later gothic buildings. All lay ruined until last year when a grant has kick started its restoration into an arts centre.

On to the South East.

4/ Broomfield House in Enfield, London. Originally built in the 16th century and much altered over the centuries. Damaged by fire in 1984 and almost destroyed by another fire in 1994, a further fire was lit in 2019 the house now sits surrounded in scaffolding awaiting restoration

5/ Darnley Mausoleum was designed by James Wyatt for The Earl of Darnley in 1786. The Grade I listed structure was damaged by arson in 1980 which bought the floor down. After a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund the mausoleum was restored & is now in the care of The National Trust.

6/ @WiltonMusicHall is a rare surviving example of its type. It won its regional heat but failed to win the final. After Wilton’s Music Hall Trust took ownership in 2004 restoration was completed in 2016 meaning the music hall came off the At Risk register after 20 years. Success

That’s it for tonight, will carry on tomorrow. Plenty more to get through. But so far a largely positive story.

On to the Midlands

7/ @CoffinWorks A Grade II* listed coffin furniture factory in Birmingham. Produced coffin furniture for the likes of Churchill & Princess Diana. Newman Bros was in operation 1894-1998. After a 15yr campaign by the Birmingham Conservation Trust it is now operated as a museum.

8/ @CromfordMills Richard Arkwright’s first mill built in 1771. Badly damaged by fire in 1929 and by later alterations. Purchased by The Arkwright Society in 1979 they have since restored and bought back into use many of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s buildings.

9/ Bethesda Methodist Chapel was a finalist. It’s one of the largest & most ornate Methodist Chapels in the UK. Closing in 1985 the building rapidly deteriorated until the Historic Chapels Trust bought it in 2002. They’ve since begun a phased restoration & it is well on its way.

On to “The East”

10/ Coalhouse Fort. A Victorian coastal fort in use until WWII. Since decommission the fort began to decline. Owned by Thurrock Council. After the tireless efforts of The Coalhouse Fort Project (Disbanded) the fort has had some restoration & is open to the public. Work continues.

11/ Moulton Windmill is a Grade I listed mill built in 1822, in use (in 1 form or another) until 1995. Having lost its sails in 1894/5 the mill ground with steam power. A local group has restored the mill at a cost of £2MIL. The sails are back & it is grinding flour by wind again

12/ Greyfriars Tower “The leaning tower of Lynn” is a remnant of a Franciscan Friary in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Having been a ruin for 400 of its 500 year life this tower has hung on in there. Restoration was completed in 2006 with the help of grants. Won its heat.

On to the North West

13/ @bank_hall A Jacobean house in Lancashire. Built in 1608 and sadly vacant since 1972. Vandals have helped the house deteriorate to a very sorry state. A local action group has helped save this house which is now being restored.

14/ Brackenhill Tower is a Peel Tower in Lancashire. Built in the 16th century and now the only one remaining south of the Scottish Border. Having fallen into disrepair in the 20th century the building was finally restored in 2010 and is now a luxury holiday cottage.

15/ @victoriabaths in Manchester. An Edwardian baths complex built 1906, the baths closed in 1993, the complex was left in a poor state. It won the final & though costs rocketed they started restoration and it is now open as an attraction & events venue. Restoration continues.

On to the North East.

16/ Ravensworth Castle. The ruined remains of a medieval castle and John Nash designed house. Partially demolished when costs got to high in 1950’s. Sadly this building is still very much at risk and I can find no sign of work commencing to save this important site.

17/ Harperley Prisoner-of-War Camp. Built in 1942 this unusually complete example of a POW camp was never meant to last as long as it has. English Heritage have completed works to some areas of the site and others are used as a private home and cheese factory.

18/ Wentworth Castle Gardens. The Wentworth Castle Heritage Trust was set up to save this Grade I listed landscape. After £20MIL of works the site reopened but was sadly forced to close in 2017. Fortunately a deal was struck & the garden is now in the care of The National Trust.

That’s it for now. Next up will be Wales.

19/ Faenol Old Hall. A late 16th century house. Formally at the centre of a large estate, when the family built a new house in the classical style the old hall was used as a farm house. The condition deteriorated. It is said it is now in private hands and has been restored.

20/ Amlwch Port and Parys Mountain. An 18th and 19th century industrial landscape, major copper mine. Some mining activity still progressing. Extensive workings remain. After a large investment a visitor centre and way-marked walks are open to the public.

21/ @LlanellyHouse An important example of early Georgian architecture. Llanelly fell far & hard, it’s front butchered with shop fronts, interior institutionalised. Original features remained under modern fittings. After multi million pound restoration the house is now saved.

On to the Highlands of Scotland.

22/ Kinloch Castle. A late Victorian mansion in the Scottish Baronial style. It has been in public ownership for decades but this hasn’t stopped the water getting in. Some repairs have been completed but more is needed to ensure this wonderful house survives into the future.

23/ Easthouse Croft. Once there were many crofts on Shetland now two remain. A simple dwelling, hunkered down with it’s roof weighed down by rocks against the fierce winds. The Croft ceased to be a home in 1972 & fell into disrepair. It has now been restored as a heritage centre.

24/ Glen o’Dee Sanatorium. Opened as a hospital for tuberculosis. It has since been a luxury hospital, barracks and convalescence hospital before closing it’s doors in 1998. Attempts to save the building by local campaigners failed and it was destroyed by arson in 2016.

On to the Lowlands of Scotland

@BritPanopticon one of the oldest music halls in the country. Opened in 1859 & traded in one form or another until 1938. Later uses including a store, shop & chicken farm did nothing to stop the rot. The Panopticon Trust was set up to save the building & they hope to restore it.

26/ Mavisbank House. An early 18th century house and the first of its type in Scotland. Easily one of Scotland’s most important buildings. Neglect in 20th century and fire in 1973 has left this house a ruin. Many attempts to restore it have failed.

27/ Nairn’s Lino Works. Built in 1882. Was once the largest producer of linoleum in the world. After a stint making bombs during WWII it closed in 1986. It lay abandoned for decades. Plans to develop the site failed & despite its A grade listing it was demolished a few years ago.

And finally onto Northern Ireland to round off the buildings featured in Series 1.

28/ Lissan House. Home to the Staples family from 1620 until Hazel sadly passed away in 2006. Hazel looked after the house single-handed for over 30yrs. To save it she transferred her home to a charitable trust who since her death have fully restored it.

29/ Herdmans Mill A large 19th Century Flax Mill in use until the 1980s. Lay empty for many years before being bought by a local lottery winner. Guess what happened? Yes that’s right. Arson. Multiple arson attacks over several years. The site is still abandoned.

30/ @CrescentArts Belfast. Built as a school in 1873, it continued as such until the 1970s. In the 1980’s the building became home to the Crescent Arts Centre. Lack of funds left it in a sorry state. Following a multimillion pound restoration the buildings future is more secure.

That’s it for Series 1. Most buildings restored or in a more secure position to move forward than they were in 2003. Sadly still some buildings in need of work and two have been lost forever. Arsonists have scorched their way through some buildings. But broadly a positive list.

On to Series 2 and the South West

2.1/ Sherborne House, Dorset. 1720 with remnants of earlier Tudor house. Let for most of its life so little altered. Local authority bought it, gave up & sold it. Developer bought it, built houses in the garden & sold it. Now owned by a charitable trust who hope to restore it.

2.2/ Castle House, Bridgwater. A concrete house built by a cement manufacture to show off his product. Ornate concrete facade & interior concrete details like staircases, handrails & window frames. Neglect, arson and unsympathetic development. Now restored. Interior will be flats

2.3/ South Caradon Mine. Once the largest copper mine in the UK. Opened in 1838 & in use for much of the rest of the century. The buildings have been decaying ever since. I cannot find an update on restoration. Way marked walks in the area are open to the public.

On to the South East

Archbishop’s Palace, Charing. Medieval palace of The Archbishop of Canterbury. Since much decayed. The great hall was used as a barn for 300 years. Much of the palace no longer survives. What does is in urgent need of saving. A local action group are trying.

2.5/ Sevendroog Castle. An 18thC folly on Shooter’s Hill. Owned by local authority since 1922. In 1988 they could no longer afford its upkeep & it was boarded up. It lay quietly decaying. A local action group helped secure funding for restoration in 2013. Now open to the public.

2.6a/ @strawbhillhouse 18thC gothic masterpiece by Horace Walpole. Lent its name to “Strawberry Hill Gothic” owned since 1923 by St Mary’s University, Twickenham. The stunning showpiece interiors slowly and quietly decayed until a campaign to restore it led to its leasing 1/2

2.6b/ to The Strawberry Hill Trust In 2007 who have since completed a £9,000,000 restoration to the main rooms and reopened it to the public shortly after. They continue to improve the house and look to repopulate it with as many of Walpole’s original contents as possible.

Up later, The Midlands & East Anglia.

Side note at this point. Anyone interesed in this thread may want to check out @StatelyHomeNews @SAVEBrit @LostHeritage and any accounts for your local historic homes and heritage assets. They are always in need of funds (especially now) and often in need of volunteers.

2.7/ Old Grammar School & Saracens Head. Winner of the second series and was fully restored. Renamed St Nicholas Place. This complex of late medieval and Tudor buildings is a remarkable survival. The local church council can no longer afford their upkeep and the site is for sale.

2.8/ @Newstead_Abbey Originally an Augustinian Priory. After the dissolution of the monasteries it was converted into a country house. Retaining the West Front as a striking folly. Formerly home to Lord Byron it is now owned by Nottingham Council who are restoring the building.

2.9/ @bawdseyradar The worlds first radar station. Built in 1937 it played a key part in the defence of The UK during WWII. Finally closing in 1991. A charitable trust was set up in 2008 and funding was awarded for restoration. Now an award winning visitor attraction.

Up next “The North”

2.10/ Sheffield Manor Lodge. Once a large Elizabethan house, vacated for the families southern estates in 17thC. Largely ruined except “The Turret House” probably the gatehouse for the complex. After a £1.25MIL restoration the whole site is open as a varied tourist attraction.

2.11/ Gayle Mill. A largely unaltered cotton mill of 1784. Converted to sawmill around 1879, finally closed in 1988. Was restored and reopened to public in 2008. In 2018 the mill owners closed it for repair and the Trust that had been operating the site left. Still closed.

2.12/ Lion Salt Works. 19thC open pan salt works. Closed in 1986. Now owned by the local authority after a major restoration the site is open as an award winning heritage attraction.

On to Wales

2.13/ Cardigan Castle 11thC rebuilt in stone. Some fortifications remain. Castle Green House built in the ruins in 1808. Occupied until 1996 when Miss Wood left for a care-home. Sold to pay fees. House & grounds left in poor state. Bought & restored by council. Open to public

2.14/ Celynen Workingmen’s Institute and Memorial Hall. Early 1900s complex of buildings paid for by miners subscription. Unsustainable after miners strike, council looked to replace it with a carpark. Campaign begun to save it. Now restored as an arts and entertainment venue.

2.15/ Llanfyllin Union Workhouse. Built 1838, in use well into 20thC. Became an old people’s home before closing 1982. Stripped of interior fittings & left to rot by a developer. Bought by preservation trust, now a community, arts & education centre. Restoration continues.

Next up Scotland

2.16/ Portencross Castle. 14thC tower on site of earlier fortifications. Largely intact but roof was blown off in 1739. A later roof saved the structure but after 100yrs was in danger of failing & taking the rest of the tower with it. Restored in 2010 & operated as a museum.

2.17/ Hall of Clestrain. 18thC Laird’s House. A country house in miniature. Roof lost in 1952 bringing to an end nearly 200yrs of occupation. Became a livestock pen. Former home to Explorer John Rae. Still in an awful condition. There are plans to restore it. Fingers crossed.

2.18/ @knockandomill 18thC Wool Mill later buildings & historic machinery. Was in an increasing poor condition until the mill was transferred into ownership of Knockando Woolmill Trust. A major award winning restoration was completed in 2012. Still in operation and open to public

And finally for Season 2 on to Northern Ireland.

2.19/ Armagh Gaol. Prison of 1780 with later additions. Women’s prison for much of 20thC. Riots and protests during The Troubles until the prison was finally closed in 1986. It has lain empty for many years. Plans to turn it into a luxury hotel don’t appear to have gone anywhere.

2.20/ Lock-Keepers Cottage, Newforge. A modest but rare survival of a lock-keepers cottage built between 1827-34. At one time a family of 10 children were bought up here. Occupied until 1993 before being sold by the family to the local council. Since restored along with the canal

2.21/ @PlayhouseDerry At various times a hotel, convent & school. Diocese parted ways with the building after a failed application to demolish it in 1986. Purchased by Pauline Ross in 1992 the playhouse was set up with a grant of just £300, it became an award wining arts centre.

That’s it’s for Series 2. Some big success stories and lots of awards won by the buildings and their restorations. One or two buildings that had been restored now on shaky ground again. Sadly a few still waiting to be saved but none of them have yet been lost forever.

On to Series 3. “Restoration Village” and first up The South East.

3.1/ Tollesbury Granary. Mid 19thC. Timber framed & weather boarded. The Granary acted as a trading store when barges were busy, a boat shed, net repair shop and undoubtedly as a meeting place. As far as I can tell it is still unrestored and at risk.

3.2/ Massey’s Folly. Victorian. Built by a Rector over decades, parts pulled down & rebuilt as he changed his mind or if they didn’t meet his standards. No one knows why. Used as a school & then lay empty until permission was granted to convert it into flats. Work started in 2019

3.3/ Watts Gallery 1904. Dedicated to the works of artist George Frederic Watts. Inspired by the earlier arts & crafts movement. The buildings galleries are top lit by natural light. After selling two paintings and receiving grants the building was restored and reopened in 2011.

On to the South West.

3.4/ Welcombe Barton. Early 17thC stone farmhouse although parts are older. Believed to have originally been an outpost of Hartland Abbey. In more recent years home of the Yarner Trust who were unable to maintain it. It has since been sold and I can find no further update.

3.5/ Dawes Twineworks. 19thC rural twine works. Nearly 100 yards long, the twine walk retains virtually all the late 19th century machinery relating to the twisting and finishing of twine. Local trust are restoring it and opening to the public.

3.6/ Newly Trinity Methodist Chapel. One of the best and most complete early 19thC chapels in Cornwall. Built in 1835. Used for religious worship until serious structural problems were identified in 1997 and it was declared unsafe for use. Still at risk.

Next up a Midlands and East Anglia.

3.7/ All Saints Church, Beckingham. Mix of periods, late Norman doorways, 13th, 14th & 15thC elements with Victorian additions. The chancel has been made watertight. However, the church is still on the At Risk register “Slow decay; solution agreed but not yet implemented”

3.8/ Pennoyer's School. Victorian School & 15thC Guild Chapel. Closed 1988. Relocated from Pulham St Mary church in 1401, the chapel became the village school in 1670. Many original features remain. £1.6MIL restoration. Reopened as an education and community venue.

3.9/ Chedham's Yard. Early 19thC. Inc blacksmith's forge, wheelwright's workshop & drying shed. Its interest lies in it being a unique time capsule. Preserved since the last member of the family, Bill Chedham, left in the 70s. Won the show. Fully restored & now open to public.

Next up Scotland

3.10/ Dennis Head Old Beacon. Built in 1788/89 and is the oldest surviving purpose-built lighthouse in Scotland. Although state of the art for the time, the light was ineffective and was removed when the lighthouse was abandoned in 1809. Received grant aid for its repair in 2007.

3.11/ Greenlaw Town Hall. Built 1829-31 in Greek Revival style with an imposing portico flanked by Ionic columns, it has been a courthouse, county offices, WWII military billet & briefly, a swimming pool. Restored and reopened in 2011. Sold to Chinese investors in 2017.

3.12/ Cromarty East Church. Late 16th/early 17thC. Walled graveyard with gravestones carved by Victorian naturalist & geologist, Hugh Miller. Well-preserved interior with 18th&19thC box pews, some with painted decoration. In care of a charitable trust. £1.3MIL restoration 2007.

Up next Wales.

3.13/ Pembrey Court Farm. Early 16thC Tudor manor house allegedly visited by Oliver Cromwell. Carmarthenshire's largest surviving pre-Renaissance house. Now a shell. However, the walls are structurally sound and the house would lend itself to restoration easily. Still waiting.

3.14/ Pen Yr Orsedd Quarry Workshops. Slate quarry buildings inc workshops, offices, hospital & industrial buildings. Built in two stages - in the 1860s & 1899-1907. Closed 1979. No signs of restoration work.

3.15/ Prichard-Jones Institute. Neo-Tudor 1905 gifted to local people as a community resource, with library, reading room, public hall & other amenities. Since restored with grant funding. In use as a community venue, cafe etc.

Next up Northern Ireland.

3.16/ White House. 1569. Originally believed to be a tall, square town house, turrets were added later. Served as a residence until 1840, then as a stable & barn. By 1923 it was a derelict shell. Since restored and gifted to local council, open by appointment for tours & meetings

3.17/ Gracehill Old School. Former Georgian school. Closed 1999. The structure was intact but suffered from dry rot & fire damage. A Preservation Trust bought the building & restored it as a multi use community space. They’ve bought & are looking to restore a nearby historic shop

3.18/ Cushendun Old Church. 1840. De-consecrated 2003. This red sandstone building is just 4m by 14m. After falling into Northern Ireland’s Buildings at Risk register this little church was restored and reopened as a community and arts venue in 2019.

And finally on to The North of England.

3.19/ Howsham Mill. Water powered corn mill constructed to look like a gothic revival folly circa 1755. Redundant since 1947 it became a roofless ruin. Grant funding allowed it to be restored & it now sells electricity to the National Grid produced using its Archimedes screws.

3.20/ Heugh Gun Battery 1860. Only surviving coastal battery to have engaged enemy ships in WW1. Trust was founded in 2000 to promote its history & preserve the battery, Open to visitors as a museum. A recent fundraising effort has secured its future. For now.

3.21/ Higherford Mill. Water powered cotton mill 1824. Modernised after a serious fire 20 years later. Finally closed in 1969 & was threatened with demolition. The water wheel was removed, but the site and water courses remain. Bought by a trust it is now a hub for artists.

And that’s it. All three seasons reviewed. Unsurprisingly a few buildings still in desperate need of work before they are lost forever, with a couple sadly already lost to us. But largely a positive story with many buildings restored often bringing with them a big boost to 1/2

their local areas. Historic buildings are important, they educate us, act as a focal point for communities & enrich our lives. Their loss causes damage to our national soul which cannot be repaired. These buildings will need our support when Covid-19 is over. Don’t forget them.