See Our Architectural Writer Charles Brooking On TV

Published on: 9 Jan, 2013
Updated on: 9 Jan, 2013

Charles Brooking, who writes for The Guildford Dragon News with his column Brooking’s Architectural Rescue, is featured in a TV programme on Channel 4 this Thursday (January 10).

Architectural historian Charles Brooking appears in Channel 4’s The Restoration Man on Thursday, January 10, at 9pm.

See him in the latest episode of the series The Restoration Man that will be shown at 9pm. The presenter, George Clarke, helps house owners bring back to life neglected architectural treasures in Britain.

This week’s episode reveals that it was love at first sight when theatre producer Vanessa Ford Robbins and her partner Nik Huddy saw Longhurst Lodge, a Victorian gate lodge nestled on the boundaries of Baynards estate, south of Cranleigh.

Nik and Vanessa want to bring this fairy tale building back to life, but they desperately need more living space and face mounting planning issues over extending the grade II listed building.

During a part of the episode a film crew visits Charles Brooking at his home in Cranleigh where he has on show a fraction of the thousands of old and historical architectural fixtures and fittings in his collection. These he has rescued from buildings prior to demolition.

Charles said: “The filming took place last summer, they spent a day here and it was great fun. But I don’t know how much they will use in the programme. We will have to wait until it’s shown.”

The featured couple tackle their project with huge drive and determination, doing all the build work themselves, but living in a caravan on site during winter. George Clarke is on hand to help advise and support the couple. He also discovers some of the estate’s bloody history.

For details on Channel 4’s The Restoration Man, click here.

For Charles’ latest column, click here.

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