The WORST episodes of The Restoration Man
Every episode of The Restoration Man ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Restoration Man!
George Clarke is The Restoration Man, travelling the British Isles meeting the stubborn romantics who want to breathe new life into the architectural treasures he unearths on his journey. His mission is to help them transform these undervalued gems into brand new homes fit for 21st century living.
#3 - Ice House, Scotland Revisit
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/23/2012
Architect George Clarke returns to a remote 19th century Scottish Ice House after two years to catch up with owner Laird Henderson. George previously helped to realise an ambitious glass extension, but after budget problems and a clash with building control, will Laird have moved on and built the idyllic Loch-side hideaway to match, or will he still be taking in the stunning views from his caravan as he struggles to complete the restoration?
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Gothic Church, Pennines Revisit
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/27/2012
Architect George Clarke catches up with Joanne McGirr and Phil Evans, who risked all to restore a Victorian Gothic church at the foot of the Pennines. Last time George saw them they were teetering on the edge of financial ruin and faced with the agonising decision of whether they should sell the project... Have they been able to keep hold of their dream home?
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#5 - Telford Church Revisit
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/19/2014
George catches up with Keith and Sheena McIntyre who were hoping to restore an isolated Telford church Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought a listed, Thomas Telford-designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena plan to convert the church into a holiday home and artist's studio, where they can bring their art students and musician friends to be inspired by the amazing light and rugged, desolate landscape. In restoring this roofless ruin, Keith and Sheena face challenges from the extreme weather and have to keep the neighbours on side while managing the build 400 miles away from their home in Newcastle. Meanwhile architect George Clarke uncovers the church's turbulent history.
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#6 - Field House
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/18/2010
Architect George Clarke advises Chris Kelly and Sue Hindle on a project to convert a small cruck-framed house into their first home together. But with four teenage daughters to house, planning permission is needed for a crucial extension to make their dream a reality.
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - Towers Revisit
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/2/2012
George revisits two stubborn romantics with their dreams of converting derelict military towers into unique homes. Artist Sarah McCombie has owned a Martello tower in Kent since 2004, and ex-army man Barrie Taylor became custodian of a Scottish castle tower in 2005. Previously, neither had gained planning permission, and George visits each project to see if Sarah and Barrie took on board his advice and turned their restoration dreams into a reality.
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#8 - Bath Lodge
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/21/2010
George meets builder Mark Horton who has for years harboured a dream to live in a unique house. With this in mind he bought an 18th century folly with plans to convert it himself into a luxurious family home. On the 'Buildings at Risk' register for ten years Bath Lodge is just a derelict shell, with no access road or utilities. Architect George Clarke is on hand to advise and support, as well as turn detective as he uncovers the history behind this mysterious building. Mark is ready for the challenge, but disaster strikes three months in when the bank pulls his loan.
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#9 - Llanreithan Church
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/28/2010
In this episode, our Restoration Man George meets Gareth, a man adamant that he doesn't want to live in a bog-standard terraced house. Gareth and his wife, Jill, dream of owning a unique home for their family. Despite no previous building experience, Gareth can't resist buying a church in Pembrokeshire, and plans to convert the disused building himself to save money.
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#10 - RAF Bunker, Nottinghamshire
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/12/2014
Furniture maker Jamie Brown has big ideas about turning a colossal and historic 15,000 square foot RAF bunker from World War II into his new home. However, with the Nottinghamshire bunker totally encased in earth, with no natural light, and the back section submerged in water, Jamie's wife, who is about to have their first baby, isn't so sure. With its fascinating history and jaw-dropping engineering, George helps Jamie tackle this huge undertaking and discovers the important role it played in the blitz.
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#11 - Fisherman's Church
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/2014
Having never lived together before, architect Neil Worrell and his partner Jackie Robinson decided to cement their relationship by purchasing a forgotten church in the picture perfect fishing town of Brixham in Devon. What began as a project that would bring them closer together becomes the ultimate test as the restoration pushes them to their limits. George Clarke brings his own design expertise to the project to help them realise their dream; and at the same time discovers the rich history that links this church directly to Brixham's celebrated fishing community.
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#13 - Thrum Water Mill
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/17/2013
Four years ago Dave and Margaret came across a picture of a watermill in the north east. The mill had been abandoned for 50 years and they decided to bring it back to life. The couple put their hearts into the restoration, with experienced amateur builder Dave even designing the new mill water-wheel to generate hydro-electric power from the force of the river. George Clarke is on hand to help the couple as they tackle this huge project. But, with floods and Margaret's life-threatening illness to contend with, will they ever achieve their dream of calling this historic building home?
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#14 - Flint Mill
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/14/2014
Alan Appleby and his wife Dora might be restoration experts, but they've never taken on a project as ambitious as this. They've saved a flint mill in Stone, Staffordshire that's on the verge of falling down. Alan is a building surveyor, and shouldn't have a problem fixing the massive structural damage. But his passion for old buildings soon takes over and they end up ploughing everything they have into this build. George Clarke helps them every step of the way and uncovers its unique history and the link between this building and the world renowned pottery and ceramics of Josiah Wedgwood.
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#17 - Shropshire Farmhouse
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/2015
First of New Series. Architect George Clarke returns with more projects to transform neglected historic buildings into unique homes. Russell Edwards and Nadia Smith have put everything into turning a derelict farmhouse in the Shropshire countryside into a family home. They are determined to restore the 18th-century building to its former glory, but their high standards soon cost them dearly, and after two winters in a caravan, illness and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm the pair. George helps with the design and hard graft and investigates the history behind this mysterious half-timber-framed building.
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#20 - Bathlodge, Ormskirk Revisit
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/16/2012
Architect George Clarke returns to Ormskirk after two years to see how builder Mark Horton and his family are doing living in their dream home - a former 18th century folly which he restored after he found it on the Buildings at Risk Register. Mark was ready for the challenge, but disaster struck three months in when the bank pulled his loan. Pressures mounted with dramatic consequences for both his health and the build, but he managed to struggle on and finish the project. Now, long after the dust has settled, how are Mark and his family enjoying living in their extraordinary home?
Watch Now:Amazon#21 - Engine House, Oxfordshire
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/26/2012
George Clarke meets Tim and Emma Verdon, who want to convert an old Victorian brickworks in the heart of rural Oxfordshire into a home. School bursar Tim and teacher Emma have big plans for the unlisted Engine House, which currently is nothing more than four walls and no roof. They enlist George to design a sympathetic extension. Emma gives up work to project manage the build. But living off site and mounting planning issues put immense pressure on them, and they're forced to make some radical decisions. Meanwhile George uncovers some disturbing history about their brickworks.
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#22 - Welsh School
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/2014
Recession-hit builders Ian and Jayne Hall Edwards face a massive battle converting a huge derelict Victorian school in a Welsh hillside village in Carmarthenshire into both a place of business and a home. Having failed to win a grant to help finance the build, they are left battling through harsh winters while living in a caravan on site, and with their family business hanging in the balance.
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#23 - Water Tower, Congleton, Cheshire
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/12/2012
George meets architect Andy and his girlfriend Ana, who are trying to restore a listed water tower into an uber-modern 21st century home. But at what personal cost? Andy Critchlow surprised his girlfriend Ana Ferguson when he bought a stunning, cylindrical Grade II listed water tower in Congleton, Cheshire, at auction - without even seeing the inside. Andy dreams of converting this building into a cutting-edge 21st century home, which means selling their current property and moving in with his parents during the nine-month build. As a director of his own architectural practice, Andy tackles the build with huge drive and determination. Meanwhile, George goes on a historical mission and discovers how this monumental landmark sitting proudly on a Cheshire hill saved the lives of the people it overlooked.
Watch Now:Amazon#24 - Chapel, Pembrokeshire Revisit
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/19/2012
George revisits Gareth and his family in their restored Victorian Welsh chapel. Is church living all it's cracked up to be? Four years ago Gareth Williams decided he didn't want to live in a bog-standard terraced house any more. So he bought a derelict church. To save money he decided to do all the restoration work himself and get everything he needed off eBay. George returns to dig deeper into the fascinating history of this ancient building.
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