Original title
Restoration
Released
8/8/2003
Origin country
GB, US
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
2
Number of episodes
21
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund. It first aired in 2003. The host of all 3 series is Griff Rhys Jones, whilst investigating each building in the heats are the show's resident "ruin detectives", Marianne Suhr and Ptolemy Dean.
Restoration had a huge impact on how the nation thought about its deteriorating historic buildings. Over three series, Griff Rhys Jones introduced 72 architectural treasures. From crumbling castles to jewels of the industrial age, all with compelling cases, all in danger of being lost and all needing help. Viewers were invited to vote for the buildings they wanted to save. In this one-hour special, Griff revisits some of the buildings and the campaigners who captured the nation's heart, discovering what has happened since. What will the future hold?
The buildings featured in the first regional heat are Bank Hall in Bretherton, a home and social centre dating back to 1608 (championed by Loyd Grossman), the elegant early 20th-century Victoria Baths in Manchester (Richard E Grant) and the fortified Brackenhill Tower in Carlisle (Martin Bell).
Broadcaster John Peel argues the case for restoring the 13th century Greyfriars Tower in Kings Lynn, historian Richard Holmes speaks up for the 19th-century Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury, and Moulton Windmill is championed by antiques expert Tim Wonnacott.
The shortlisted buildings in the south of Scotland are the Mavisbank in Edinburgh, an early Palladian villa championed by Kirsty Wark; an historic linoleum factory in Kirkcaldy, favoured by politican Michael Portillo; and comedian Steve Punt's choice, the Britannia Music Hall in Glasgow, the oldest surviving building of its kind in the UK.
Bristol's Arnos Vale Cemetery, is championed by historian Lucinda Lampton; journalist Joan Bakewell advocates the restoration of former country house, boarding school and hospital Poltimore House in Devon; and politician Roy Hattersley puts the case for saving the oldest surviving Methodist chapel in the world - Whitfield Tabernacle in Kingswood.
Actress Fiona Shaw is the advocate for Lissan House, and Dermot Murnaghan puts the case for Herdman's Mill, both in Tyrone; while sculptor Antony Gormley argues on behalf of the Crescent arts Centre in Belfast.
TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson is the advocate for an unlikely building - the Newman Brothers Coffin Works in Birmingham. And journalists Matthew Parris and Simon Jenkins respectively speak about the world's first water-powered cotton mill - Cromford Mill - and the Bethesda Chapel in Stoke-On-Trent.
Arabella Weir makes the case for restoring late 19th-century Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum, Ben Fogle's choice is Burra Croft, one of only two surviving croft houses in the Shetland Isles; and Fiona Bruce argues in favour of the Edwardian timber-built TB Sanatorium in Aberdeen.
Kate Adie argues for Ravensworth Castle in Gateshead, a 14th-century building with additions spanning over 500 years; in contrast historian Michael Wood advocates the preservation of the newest building featured in the series, the WW2 PoW Camp at Harperley in County Durham; and gardening expert Rachel De Thame speaks up for a folly and glasshouse at Wentworth House in Barnsley.
TV presenter and designer Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen argues for restoring Llanelly House at Llanelli, an elegant early 18th-century town house; Actor Robert Hardy puts the case for Vaynol Old Hall in Gwynedd, mansion believed to date from around 1550; and politician Glenys Kinnock advocates saving Amlwich Port and Parys Mountain, an important centre of copper mining since the bronze age.
Rory Bremner stakes a claim for the restoration of the 19th century Wiltons Music Hall in East London, while Ozwald Boateng argues for the 16th century Broomfield House in Enfield. Also featured is Darnley Mausoleum in Cobham, Kent, built in the late 18th century but never used.
This was a short ten-minute programme recapping the heat winners and launching the final vote. The top ten was also featured in a special Restoration insert into Gardener's World the following evening.
The winners of the ten heats are featured in a final live telephone vote. The heat winners were: Scottish Highlands: Kinloch Castle, Rum. Scottish Lowlands: Mavisbank, Edinburgh. North West: Victoria Baths, Manchester. North East: Glass House, Barnslay. Northern Ireland: Lissan House, Tyrone. Midlands: Bethesda Chapel, Stoke-On-Trent. East: Greyfriars Tower, Kings Lynn. Wales: Llanelli House, Llanelli. South West: Poltimore House, Devon. South East: Wilton's Music Hall, London.
A look at how the first series winner, the Victoria Baths in Manchester, has benefitted from the 3.5 million pounds raised by the 2003 series, plus a look at how the other featured buildings have fared since appearing on the programme.
Griff Rhys-Jones announces the twenty-one buildings selected for the second series of Restoration, and introduces five short films about buildings which have been the subject of restoration projects, including his own pet project, The Hackney Empire in London.
The featured buildings are Hall of Clestrain on Orkney; Knockando Wool Mill in Banffshire and Portencross Castle in West Kilbride.
The featured buildings in the South East of England are Strawberry Hill in Twickenham; Severndroog Castle on Shooter's Hill in London; and the Archbishop's Palace at Charing in Kent.
The featured buildings are Llanfyllin Workhouse, built as a result of the first Poor Law Act; the Workingman's Institute in Gwent, built in the Edwardian era; and the ancient Cardigan Castle.
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