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Restoration Home

Factual: History

Factual: Homes & Gardens

Following owners of crumbling historic buildings as they save them from ruin

Following owners of crumbling historic buildings as they save them from ruin by restoring them into 21st-century dream houses

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Restoration Home: Series 3

Caroline Quentin

Annette Clarke

Joff Wilson

Restoration Home: Series 3: Episode 8: Barnhill

Episode 8

Episode 8: Barnhill

Series 3

Barnhill

BBC Two - Restoration Home, Series 3, Barnhill

Geri and Kevin's dream home proves to be a nightmare, as costs spiral out of control.

Restoration of historic properties. Kent husband and wife team Geri and Kevin's dream home in Devon soon proves to be a nightmare, as costs spiral out of control.

When Geri and her husband Kevin first saw Barnhill they fell in love. All practical and sensible decision making went out of the window the moment they saw the gothic arches, quirky architectural features and in particular the glass lantern-like cupola sitting on top. Despite living in Kent, they decided to buy their dream home in Devon without even commissioning a survey, but quickly discovered if they had, they might have run a mile. 

Barnhill was in a critical condition. As the restoration begins so too does a race against time to prevent it collapsing. Walls believed to be sturdy turn out to be nothing more than waterlogged rotting mud piles - Geri quickly doubles her expected restoration budget. As efforts to save the gothic fantasy grow in intensity so too does its history. Believed to date back to the 18th century, but changed significantly over time, Barnhill was always a subject of mystery and speculation in the village, but finally some hard evidence emerges. The historical investigation could even explain the reason the original build was so poorly executed.

As the financial cost of saving the house overtakes what it could ever be worth, Geri has to take some tough decisions. Her only option is to manage the build herself - but then the true impact of trying to undo two centuries of amateur construction hits home - Barnhill's defining feature, the glass lantern on top is on the brink of plummeting to the ground. As Geri attempts to rescue the old house she starts to lose control of what the final impact of saving Barnhill will have on her budget, and on her.

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Following the fortunes of property owners wanting to turn historic ruins into dream homes.

Following the fortunes of properties facing a struggle for survival and their committed new owners wanting to turn historic ruins into dream homes.

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