Do you want to know more about the buildings featured in series one of Restoration? You can find information on the progress made since 2003 below.
East
MOULTON WINDMILL
Since Restoration 2003, almost the entire mill has been restored. The only outstanding project is the sails and depending on funding, it is hoped that they will be in place by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
Moulton Windmill website
GREYFRIARS TOWER
Another resounding success. The fully restored tower opened to the public on October 18, 2006 and the garden in which it stands has been landscaped to represent the friary of which it was once a part.
Greyfriars Tower on the King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council website
COALHOUSE FORT
It is estimated that £20 m is needed to restore the fort but £1 - 2m is required to make it structurally sound. Some restoration is underway with work being carried out on the gatehouse and gateway block with plans to replace the first and ground floor along with the windows. One of the casemates is being turned into an education facility for children.
Coal House Fort website
Midlands
CROMFORD MILL
Since Series 1, there have been a number of significant developments; an archaeological survey was carried out, a viewing platform was put in place and the northern gable was taken down brick by brick, a steel frame inserted and rebuilt. At the moment, the building is stable but remains a hollow shell whilst work is done on other buildings on the site.
Cromford Mill on the Arkwright Society website
NEWMAN BROTHERS
This project is making good progress. Plans involve displaying the warehouse, offices, shroud and stamp rooms as they were when the factory closed in 1998. The rear ranges of the building will be turned into workspaces to generate income for the upkeep of the building. Planning permission was secured in October 2008. Work has just finished removing hazardous items from the site and plans are underway for displays, events and activities. The project costs are estimated at £4m. It is hoped that work will start on the site early 2010 and the factory be opened to the public in late 2011.
Newman Brothers on the Birmingham Conservation Trust website
BETHESDA CHAPEL
A first major phase of restoration costing just under £1m was completed between September 2006 and September 2007. This included a complete repair of the external shell as well as restoring and redecorating the frontage. The leaking roof was mended, the rainwater disposal system was renewed and the dry rot was eradicated. Fundraising efforts are currently underway for Phase 2 to cover the repair of the interior. This is intended to include repair of the pulpit, the seating, the pewing downstairs and the reinstatement of the decorative iron railings. A new organ (from a redundant Manchester church) made by the same maker as the original organ and only some 10 years younger, will be erected.
NORTH EAST
RAVENSWORTH CASTLE
A conservation plan has been drawn up and discussions are taking place between the interested parties. It is hoped that urgent works will start this year. (2008)
HARPERLEY POW
Since Restoration first visited this unique complex of concrete buildings, the site has deteriorated rapidly. The owners of the camp have managed to raise funds for surveys on the structures but restoration will be expensive. Having done everything possible to try and save this piece of history, the owners are now looking into the possibility of passing it to a trust which may be in a stronger position to raise funds before it's too late.
GLASSHOUSE AND FOLLY AT WENTWORTH
Work on Phase 1 of a massive programme to restore the 600-acre Wentworth estate began in the summer of 2005 and the castle's formal garden and surrounding parkland opened to the public in May 2008. The folly has been restored but work has not yet started on the glasshouse. If funding is approved, the Trust hope to start work at the end of this year.
Wentworth Castle website
NORTH WEST
BRACKENHILL TOWER
The tower is now privately owned. (2008)
BANK HALL
The Heritage Trust North West has now signed an agreement to lease Bank Hall. This agreement paves the way to submit a planning application. Bank Hall is working with Urban Splash and they have a well advanced plan for the Hall. The plan is to develop the Hall into 8 to 10 houses and apartments with public access to the tower and central cove. There will also be a scheme for enabling development.
Bank Hall website
VICTORIA BATHS
Following their success on Restoration: Series 1, the supporters of Victoria Baths got down to work. The majority of the money won through Restoration has been spent on the important job of making the front block of the building watertight and weatherproof. Painstaking and meticulous tasks such as repairing gutters and replacing slates were vital to the future of the baths and the great news was that it came in under budget.
Work has also commenced on the breathtaking interior of the building, both structurally and cosmetically. Many of the grand stained glass windows have been repaired and experts have been working hard to replace Victorian tiles long since lost.
Today the supporters are continuing to secure funding for the next stage of the restoration whilst working with developers to secure a long-term future for the site.
Victoria Baths website
SOUTH EAST
BROOMFIELD HOUSE
We have not had any news about this site. (2008)
WILTONS MUSIC HALL
The music hall is a more popular theatre venue than ever but the entertainment is self-funding so no profit can go towards restoration. Efforts are directed towards keeping the building open for performances and urgent repairs are dealt with as and when they crop up. (2008)
Wilton's Music Hall website
DARNLEY MAUSOLEUM
Darnley has been completely restored and will now be incorporated into a scheme providing public access to over 800 acres of glorious Kent countryside.
Thousands of hours were spent restoring what is widely regarded as the finest mausoleum in the land. The building is currently in the process of passing to the National Trust who will be able to ensure its security in the future. Open days are planned and the interior is currently open by appointment only.
Darnley Mausoleum on Cobham Park Heritage Project website
SOUTH WEST
WHITFIELD TABERNACLE
We have not had any news about this site. (2008).
ARNOS VALE CEMETERY
Restoration work has started and it is hoped that the cemetery will be complete towards the end of the year.
Arnos Vale website
POLTIMORE HOUSE
They have just received funding which will allow Phase 1 work to start on rebuilding the north and east range roof areas.
Poltimore House website
SCOTLAND
EASTHOUSE (BURRA CROFT)
Fully restored in 2006 and open to the public.
Easthouse on the Shetland Heritage website
BANCHORY SANITORIUM (aka GLEN O'DEE HOSPITAL)
Since this building appeared in 2003, Grampian Primary Care NHS entered into and sold the site to a developer who proposes to demolish the building. Three building preservations trusts, the Prince's Regeneration Trust and Historic Scotland lodged objections, and the developer's application is under review.
KINLOCH CASTLE
Whilst there are plans and projects for income-generating proposals, funding is proving hard to find. (2008)
Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum website
VICTORIA LINO WORKS
A question mark hangs over this building as there are no investment proposals.
BRITANNIA MUSIC HALL
The completed, restored exterior is shortly to be unveiled and fundraising will soon be underway for the interior.
Britannia Panopticon Music Hall website
MAVISBANK
Historic Scotland has announced a £2 million stabilization programme and it will be seeking ownership of the property through compulsory purchase.
WALES
PARYS MOUNTAIN
Funding applications have been submitted for a range of projects to regenerate the site. (2008)
LLANELLY HOUSE
As one of the finest buildings of its type in Wales, Llanelly House was an important architectural treasure, but had been overlooked and neglected in the modern urban sprawl of Llanelly town centre.
This Georgian masterpiece has now been incorporated into a regeneration scheme which will link it with ten other listed buildings in the local area and it has received a grant for £3.6 million which will return it to its former glory. Currently experts are piecing together the architectural and social history behind the house and using cutting edge techniques to discover what still remains hidden.
The building is currently still a construction site so is not open to the public.
Llanelli House on the Llanelli Council website
VAYNOL OLD HALL
The hall is in private ownership and has been restored.
NORTHERN IRELAND
CRESCENT ARTS CENTRE
In September last year, Northern Ireland's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure increased the amount of their grant to £4.5m. Restoration work has started and it is hoped that the centre will re-open in April 2010.
Crescent Arts website
LISSAN HOUSE
Hazel Dolling and her family home captured the hearts of the nation when it was featured on Restoration. Following her death, campaigners have continued to work hard to save it.
Along with Hazel's wishes, the house and grounds are in the process of being passed to a robust trust that are working to find a suitable long term use for the site that will incorporate public access. Since Hazel died work has been carried out to prevent the state of the building deteriorating any further. Public interest has been high, drawing large crowds on open days.
Lissan House website
HERDMANS MILL
Various restoration projects have taken place and funding is being sought for other parts of the site.
Herdmans Mill on the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust website
BBC History
You can find more information on all the buildings featured in Series 1 on the old Restoration website.
BBC History
More Updates
Find out what has happened to the buildings featured in Series 2
Find out what has happened to the buildings featured in Series 3