Ep 5. Field House

In season 1 episode 5 of The Restoration Man, titled "Field House," host George Clarke travels to Cambridgeshire to help a couple restore a dilapidated 17th-century farmhouse into their dream home.

The couple, Stephanie and Steve, purchased the property with the hope of converting it into a spacious family home that would still retain its historic charm. However, the house had not been lived in for decades and was in a state of disrepair, with the roof collapsing in several places and many of the beams rotting through.

To transform the house, Stephanie and Steve enlisted the help of a team of builders who specialized in restoring historic properties. They began by carefully dismantling the house brick by brick and cataloguing each individual piece. Once they had taken apart the entire structure, they began the process of rebuilding it, working carefully to ensure that each brick was returned to its original position.

One of the biggest challenges of the restoration was dealing with the house's old thatched roof. The builders had to carefully remove the existing thatch, replace any damaged or missing beams, and then lay new thatch using traditional materials and techniques. As a result, the new roof was not only functional but also visually stunning, with its herringbone woven pattern and undulating curves.

Inside the house, Stephanie and Steve had a clear vision for the kind of space they wanted to create. They wanted to retain as many of the original features as possible, including the exposed beams and brick walls, while also creating a warm and welcoming home for their family.

To achieve this, they decided to install underfloor heating beneath the original stone flooring, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere throughout the house. They also decided to knock down some of the walls to create more open-plan living spaces, while still retaining some of the original rooms, such as the old pantry and the master bedroom.

Throughout the restoration process, George Clarke was on hand to offer advice and guidance to the couple, helping them navigate the various challenges of restoring an old house. He also explored the history of the property, discovering that it had once been a working farm and that the original occupants had lived there for generations.

In the end, the restoration of Field House was a stunning success. The couple had managed to preserve the historic character of the property while also creating a beautiful, modern family home. The house was now a warm and welcoming space that would last for generations to come, a true testament to the couple's vision and perseverance.