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00:00Hidden behind high walls and hedgerows stand Yorkshire's secret stately homes,
00:06a priceless part of our heritage.
00:08And now some are throwing open the doors.
00:11Wow, I like it already.
00:13To auctioneer and country house connoisseur Angus Ashworth.
00:16You walk in here, you cannot not be amazed with it.
00:19It's sort of a visual overload.
00:21He's on a mission to help save these historic houses for the nation.
00:25More than 200 have vanished since the war.
00:28They were just bulldozed, people couldn't afford them.
00:30They were lost forever.
00:32He'll be hunting through lofts and cellars.
00:34Oh, I've spotted something.
00:36That's, you see, look, yeah, look, armour.
00:38There's the armour. There's the armour, yeah.
00:40For forgotten treasure.
00:42Look at that. Look at that bad boy.
00:44This is like a dream for me.
00:46It's quite a mess for me.
00:48I don't think I can do anything with the toilets.
00:50To raise cash to help fund renovation or repairs.
00:54It's a battle, you know, something goes wrong every day.
00:57Something significant breaks every week.
00:59And the upkeep's enormous.
01:01He'll be diving into life.
01:03As a weekend house guest.
01:06And occasional butler.
01:08All right, cheers.
01:10Arriving in style.
01:12It's beautiful from up here, isn't it?
01:14It gives you a real perspective.
01:16To experience a lost way of life in some of Yorkshire's most stunning stately homes.
01:28So we're going to head south east towards Langton there.
01:35Angus and pilot James are preparing to take off on their most challenging mission yet.
01:41To help the owner of a house that's lost almost all of its heritage.
01:45Well, I'm going to Langton Hall today where William Langton lives.
01:48And normally I'm taking items out of houses and selling them.
01:52But this is a little bit different.
01:53I think William needs some putting in.
01:55Because the house before he had it was completely stripped.
01:58It was a shell.
01:59So now it's about putting the period pieces back in.
02:02OK, here we go, Angus.
02:04OK.
02:05Shariaki, rolling 2-4.
02:08They're heading towards the coast over the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds.
02:14There's one thing going into a country house through the front door.
02:17It's another sim, yeah.
02:19Stately Langton Hall was the home of generations of swashbuckling aristocrats
02:25and once even hosted Winston Churchill.
02:28But its present owner describes himself as just a bloke from Bridlington.
02:33OK, hold my hand.
02:35Single dad William Langton was not to the man of all.
02:39Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap.
02:43Right, sit down.
02:45I'm a Yorkshire man through and through.
02:47Born and bred by the seaside in Bridlington.
02:50I remember strolling down the promenade and going into the arcades.
02:54So to end up a place like this is really quite a shock to myself when I think about it sometimes.
03:01William only bought his mansion when he saw an ad in the Yorkshire Post.
03:06One, two, three, go.
03:08Oh my goodness.
03:10Now he's living the life of a modern day aristocrat in a mansion that by sheer coincidence bears his name.
03:17Langton Hall primarily is a home for me and my daughter Ivy.
03:21We live here and we love it here.
03:23But 60 years as a school in wartime army headquarters had left it stripped of all its furniture and most of its period features.
03:33And being the owner of a grade two listed building comes with big responsibilities.
03:39Which one's going to be the winner?
03:42Mine!
03:43No, I think mine's the winner.
03:46When I bought Langton Hall I did feel a sense of duty.
03:50The roof was literally no longer protecting the house from water.
03:55The windows were rotting.
03:57The floor was through in various places.
03:59So the duty was simple.
04:01Save the house.
04:02Realistically, I have bought this with my heart rather than my head.
04:08Actually, the house lost a substantial five-figure sum last year.
04:13William admits he needs help to restore his home's Georgian interior and make it financially viable.
04:20We're looking for Langton Hall now.
04:22It's not the biggest of Georgian houses.
04:24It's a night house but it's a smallish estate.
04:27It used to be a school.
04:29I remember it when it was a school.
04:30And there it is.
04:31Look at that, a swimming pool outside it.
04:34House builder William is about to land Angus with a major challenge.
04:50There it is, Langton Hall.
04:53Or as I used to remember it, Woodley School.
04:56I remember playing cricket and rugby down here.
04:58And now it's a private home.
05:00So, fascinating to see what it's like inside.
05:07William, how are you doing?
05:08You all right?
05:09Well, good morning.
05:10A little bit breezy this morning.
05:12Yeah, there's not much to those tiger moths.
05:14They get buffeted about a bit.
05:15Yeah, are you here?
05:16Save the sound.
05:17I'm here.
05:18What a gorgeous house.
05:19Hello.
05:20This is Barley.
05:21Barley.
05:22Hiya.
05:23Faithful of Labrador.
05:24Well, you can't not have a black Labrador and live in a house like this.
05:28Angus is here for the weekend.
05:30But there'll be no rummaging for auction items at this property.
05:34Here we are.
05:35Welcome to Langton Hall.
05:37William is more interested in working to bring back the period feel of the hall's vast interior.
05:43Feel free to pop your bags down.
05:44Wonderful, thank you.
05:45And let me show you around.
05:47So you've got to imagine, when I first bought the place, it was a complete shell.
05:52What a lovely hallway you come into this, albeit the Victorians have had their hands on it with the tiles.
05:56Yeah.
05:57But you know, that's path, of course.
05:59It'd be really interesting to hear a little bit more about what you think was the original form of the house and how it's evolved over the years.
06:05And, of course, the Langton Hounds, so to speak.
06:08Well, strictly no.
06:09This was the Norcliffe family's crest, and I actually added those to put a bit of architectural detailing.
06:15So you put that back in?
06:16Yeah, so that's all new, as is the ceiling work here, the coving.
06:20So you've done a lot of work, haven't you?
06:22Yeah, and I'll be interested to see what you think I've got right and wrong.
06:25OK.
06:26Well, let's have a look round, come on.
06:27Come on.
06:28William is anxious to get Angus's input on rescuing the hall.
06:32He fears he lacks the historical knowledge the house deserves.
06:36The fireplace, is this something you've added in?
06:38No, that fireplace actually was here when I purchased the property, so it could be original, whatever that is.
06:44Yeah.
06:45The one in the hallway is an addition that I did when I did the refurbishment.
06:48That was simply a gas appliance, but has really added something into that hallway.
06:53I think, you know, with a lot of these houses, yes, it's Georgian, but then things were added.
06:56So it's not unusual to get that continuation over the periods of Georgian through to Victorians.
07:00So you can mix the periods.
07:03William has only been able to rescue some of Langton's rooms.
07:08So here we are. This is the dining room here at Langton Hall.
07:13Wow. I mean, this feels like how it should be, doesn't it? You know, it's a great room.
07:18So it's probably the room that I've been most careful with in the redecoration.
07:22Yeah.
07:23And actually, we did quite a lot of work when we filmed Gentleman Jack here.
07:26Well, of course, because this house has a history with that, doesn't it?
07:30So the story goes that obviously Ann Lister used to visit both Charlotte and Isabella here at Langton Hall.
07:36Yeah.
07:37And had romantic dalliances with both of them at different times.
07:41It was in the early 19th century that lesbian diarist Ann Lister, also known as Gentleman Jack, first came to Langton.
07:51Her visits were recreated in this recent lavish BBC drama.
08:00Hands up!
08:01The authentic modern portrayal of their then scandalous lesbian love affair was filmed in the hall soon after William moved in.
08:08Oh, I do hope you're hungry, Miss Walker.
08:11Millions of viewers tuned in to Isabella's subtle seduction under the noses of her naive family, reenacted by Sir Ann Jones as Ann.
08:20It was sumptuously shot in the very same room where the events took place 200 years ago.
08:30I recognise this gentleman because that's Isabella's dad.
08:33Yeah, so that's Colonel Norcliffe Norcliffe.
08:36Yep, and he became a major general, so he's in a hussars uniform.
08:39Would you say that he was a serious military figure of the time?
08:43Yeah.
08:44Yeah.
08:45And at that time they did buy their ranks as well.
08:48I think he was a major on half pay before he went to the hussars.
08:53And then basically in those days he could give the army some money and they'd promote you.
08:57He got promoted up to major general, so he must have given him a lot of money.
08:59Yeah.
09:00But he was on the front line, he did see serious combat.
09:03In its Victorian heyday, the hall's statement staircase was a monument to its owner's military achievements.
09:11What are your first impressions of the hallway?
09:13William is anxious to tap Angus's expertise.
09:17I like the hallway because it's just that space, isn't it?
09:20Probably a few things on the wall.
09:22Yeah, I think I am a little bit short of artwork and maybe other guy to speak to about that.
09:26But I think as a space, great, it's wonderful.
09:30But William needs more help than just advice on portraits.
09:36Upstairs, Angus is in for a surprise as the decor becomes, well, eclectic.
09:44I've had a bit of a wander around on my own and had a little look in all the rooms.
09:48And you've got some that are nice historical, some that are very modern, you know, obviously he's moved in, made it liveable.
09:54And then there's some that are, well, I mean, quite out of this world, really.
09:59It's just not what I expected.
10:00I mean, a house like this and you walk in and there's like this galaxy room.
10:06Um, yeah, I'm still processing that one, actually.
10:12Um, it's just totally caught me off guard.
10:17The furnishings in the principal guest room owe more to one of William's show homes than the 18th century.
10:23So here we are. This is your room for the weekend.
10:26Wonderful. Thank you very much.
10:27We call it the tree room. So, er...
10:29I can see why.
10:30Some B&Q wallpaper here on the wall.
10:33I mean, William's showing me to my room and it's wonderful.
10:36You know, real privilege to be staying in a place of those gorgeous windows or the sort of fold-out blinds.
10:42It's lovely. I mean, it's not necessarily furnished as you might expect.
10:47So, yeah, I think I'm going to get my thinking cap on, see how we can help and improve, I think.
10:55This is Angus's challenge for the weekend.
10:58William has given him a budget of £10,000 to transform the tree room and return it to its former Georgian glory.
11:06Tomorrow, Angus will be harnessing his trade network to help save this room from the 21st century.
11:13Hi, Gerard. It's William.
11:34Businessman William Langton bought historic Langton Hall and its 20 acres of parkland six years ago.
11:41I think the key thing is to make sure that family life can coexist with any commercial activity that you do.
11:51I have a daughter and there's nothing that pleases me more than when she's swimming in the pool or kicking a football around.
11:58These are the moments when you think this is all worth it.
12:02In less than two years, William decorated and furnished twelve bedrooms, a kitchen and a billiard room
12:08and turned staff quarters into holiday cottages.
12:13But most interior features of this 18th century mansion are now solidly 21st century, aimed at event hire and Airbnb.
12:24I'd like to see us get to a stage where we're meeting the day to day bills of the hall by its commercial activities.
12:31It's not about making money. It is simply about trying to balance the books.
12:38Weekend guest Angus believes that restoring Langton's historic character might bring in more guests.
12:44And he thinks the Georgian makeover of the tree room could become a test bed for the transformation of the entire house.
12:52Well, looking forward to the day.
12:54Yeah, well, we're going to upset your car because mum got any wheels, so...
12:58Well, you better tell me where we're going, then.
13:00He's taking William on a road trip.
13:03We're going to head to near Nersboro now.
13:05OK.
13:06Goldsboro Hall, which...
13:09Hopefully, we're going to meet Mark as well. He bought Goldsboro Hall.
13:11It's an earlier property than yours, but I think, hopefully, there's quite a few similarities, I think, in the fact that you both bought a property that needed a lot of work.
13:23Angus is hoping his house can learn from another country house buyer who turned his historic home into an upmarket hotel.
13:32I brought William to Goldsboro Hall, just outside Nersboro.
13:35OK, it's a much earlier property, Jacobean, you know, it's a couple of hundred years earlier than William's.
13:41But, very similarities, you know, privately owned, it'd been a nursing home, all sorts of things, so it's been ripped apart, it was a shelf.
13:49Very similar to William's.
13:51So, I think it's good for him to see how that history's been breathed back into the house, how it's been enhanced and celebrated, and what can be done with it.
14:00So, I'm hoping he takes something away from this, and I can get him onto my way of thinking.
14:12Thank you very much.
14:14Yeah, so, here we are.
14:16I mean, look at that.
14:17A statement piece, as soon as you walk in, isn't it?
14:20I mean, you've got a wider hall, so I think it's a bit easier for you to get that.
14:25Yeah, but no, they've certainly got some very grand things in here, haven't they?
14:28Yeah, and another massive light.
14:29But also, you know, long case clock, you can get, I mean, that's a particularly good one, but you can get long cases for next to no money.
14:36If William fancies a clock like this, Angus can find him one for less than £100.
14:42So, this is one of their suite rooms.
14:46Wow.
14:48Which, you've got the sort of natural light, okay, it's a bay window as opposed to yours, which are a standard sort of flat, but similar sort of light coming in.
14:55Yeah.
14:56You've got the big feature piece of the bed.
14:57Wow.
14:58I do love the bed.
14:59You know, it's a fantastic thing.
15:01So, tell me, what era is this?
15:04I mean, this is new.
15:05Is it?
15:06Yeah, yeah, this is reproduction.
15:07So, actually, a lot of the furnishings, and you could do this with old furnishings, it doesn't have to be new.
15:12So, all this, the desks, the wardrobes, the bedsides, these are all new furnishings.
15:18Right.
15:19Okay.
15:20So, this is what we would call reproduction?
15:21Yeah.
15:22Okay.
15:23Reproduction.
15:24But Angus is meeting resistance.
15:25So, I mean, looking at this bed, obviously, you said it's a reproduction.
15:29I probably, if we're going down the route of doing that room again, want something that actually isn't reproduction, that maybe is an antique.
15:38Yeah.
15:39I mean, could we find this sort of thing?
15:40So, you can.
15:41It's just a case of when they come up.
15:43So, you could get a real absolute, I mean, belter, 400-year-old.
15:48Yeah.
15:49Wow.
15:50Bed, you know, six or eight thousand for a belter.
15:55Yeah.
15:56What you've got to be careful of is, on some of the old ones, if you're buying a period bed, they have different sized beds.
16:01Okay.
16:02So, you still want it to be practical, but it takes a modern mattress.
16:06It becomes a selling point for the house.
16:09Angus may be turning William into an antiques enthusiast.
16:14I thought, really, this was about selling William the vision and, oh, yeah, I get it.
16:19It can look like this.
16:20And we're going to do it on a budget and, you know, he's turned into a purist.
16:24I mean, music's my ears, you know.
16:26I know, I want a period bed in there.
16:28Yeah, yeah, yeah.
16:29I mean, he's really got into it.
16:30I mean, we're on the same page, which is great.
16:33It's taken owner Mark Oglesby 20 years to restore Goldsborough Hall to its former glory.
16:42But when you took this on, I mean, it had been very institutionalised.
16:45It was stripped, really, wasn't it?
16:46Yeah.
16:47So, you've had to recreate all that.
16:48Absolutely, yeah.
16:49No, when we came, the only running water was down the walls.
16:52That's a good one.
16:55I think that sounds like a very similar story to mine.
16:58But we very much started with just the downstairs rooms.
17:00So, we did the downstairs rooms up, we did weddings, people didn't stay.
17:04Then we evolved to doing one room and another room and another room.
17:07Wow.
17:08And slowly built it up.
17:09So, this has literally been a labour of love.
17:10Oh, absolutely, yeah, yeah.
17:12Angus's crash course in how to save a country house has got William thinking.
17:17I think one of the nicest things about meeting you here today
17:20is that after having owned the place for 20 years, you've still got a smile on your face.
17:25Yeah.
17:26And having only owned Langton just over five, I'm hoping that I'll still be smiling in another 15 years.
17:33I do hope so, too.
17:35I think what's really nice here is that balance of the history's there, but it's still comfortable, homely.
17:42A bit like William wants to do, keep it homely.
17:45William's got, you know, different history, but still rich history in terms of the Norcliffs and Lister, you know.
17:52So, embrace that, and I think get the balance right, and I think you're on to a winner.
18:01Back at Langton, it's time for dinner, and William has hired celebrated local chef Dan Graham to cook.
18:07Hello, chef.
18:08Hello. How are you doing?
18:09Not so bad. Are you all right?
18:11Yeah, very well, thank you. Very well.
18:12I've come to see what's on the menu tonight. What are we having?
18:16So, we are having some nice local seasonal produce.
18:19We're starting with a chalk stream trout, which is served with a spillman's of York asparagus.
18:24Lovely.
18:25So, really just come into season, beautiful asparagus, and then we're following it up with a roast rack of lamb.
18:30Dan has cooked in most of Yorkshire's country houses for guests that have included senior royals.
18:37Being a private chef, I get to go here, there, and everywhere, so Langton Hall, it's a firm favourite of mine, and I'm happy to say I'm a regular chef here.
18:44I love coming to Langton because it almost feels a little bit more relaxed. You have the grandeur, but it also feels quite chilled.
18:53Sometimes you go to some of the bigger estate, they can feel a little bit more on edge and a little bit more pressured.
18:59A bit more relaxed this evening.
19:01So, yeah, it's nice.
19:02Wonderful.
19:03Well, I won't stop you because that looks amazing. I'm looking forward to sampling your words.
19:09Thank you. Take care.
19:10William wants Angus to know more about the history of his home.
19:16So, he's invited some staff, friends, and former pupils of the school to meet him for a nostalgic dinner.
19:23Well, what I really should do is actually, to quieten you down, is ring the old school bell.
19:30Which is one of the few things that I actually was left by the school.
19:38So, cheers.
19:39Cheers, Will.
19:40Cheers, Will.
19:41Cheers, Will.
19:42Cheers.
19:43Cheers.
19:45Angus is keen to hear stories of the school which he also remembers as a visiting teenage rugby player.
19:52I mean, Will's done a fabulous job, I've got to say. Absolutely brilliant.
19:56So, a lot of changes since you were here.
19:58Hmm.
19:59I mean, when you think, where we're stood now, there'd be 120 kids here, alright, in this room.
20:06Yeah.
20:07All the teachers at the back.
20:08Wow.
20:09Headmaster at the front, and that was every morning assembly.
20:11Yeah.
20:12Wow.
20:13And then they'd ring that bell again.
20:14Was that the actual bell?
20:15That was the actual bell, and that would go into the dining room then.
20:19Okay.
20:20There's plenty of time today, obviously, in there.
20:21Yeah.
20:22120 sweaty kids on benches.
20:32Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated for dinner.
20:35Today, the owner of Langton has no title, but tonight's toast is to one of his aristocratic predecessors.
20:43Shall we raise a glass to Norcliffe-Norcliffe?
20:44Norcliffe-Norcliffe.
20:45Norcliffe-Norcliffe.
20:46Norcliffe-Norcliffe.
20:47To Norcliffe-Norcliffe.
20:48And the new era of Langton.
20:52Yeah.
20:58What an incredible night.
20:59It's been wonderful.
21:00William has absolutely spoiled me, and do you know what?
21:05It's been wonderful this evening, talking to all the guests.
21:08It's been really nice to immerse myself in that history.
21:11And, you know, it gets me thinking.
21:14Yeah, I've got a plan, but I can wait for it tomorrow.
21:17It's bedtime.
21:37It's a new day on the Langton Estate in North Yorkshire.
21:40And Angus is in for a rude awakening.
21:43I've been in the North Sea off Scarborough on Boxing Day.
21:46That was all right.
21:47New Lord of the Manor William likes an early morning swim in the outdoor pool.
21:52Oh.
21:53Right.
21:54Three, two, one.
22:02That is a bit fresh, isn't it?
22:03There is nothing better than swimming in an outdoor pool in Yorkshire.
22:07God's own county.
22:09The sun nearly on our back.
22:11OK.
22:12Ready?
22:13Yeah.
22:14Steady.
22:15Go!
22:16Go!
22:17Go!
22:19Go!
22:20Go!
22:21Go!
22:22Go!
22:23Go!
22:24Go!
22:25Go!
22:26Go!
22:27Go!
22:28Go!
22:29Go!
22:30Go!
22:31Go!
22:32Go!
22:33Go!
22:34Go!
22:35Go!
22:36Go!
22:37Go!
22:38Go!
22:39Go!
22:40Go!
22:41Go!
22:42Go!
22:43Go!
22:44Go!
22:46Get your foot reciprocal!
22:48Geron, go!
22:49And S Soligherz, on this scale in estates.
22:50You know, I've been to lots of...
22:51They've got to pay their way cos they are absolute bottomless pits of money.
22:54Just the maintenance alone, and the upkeep.
22:55So they've got to be commercial.
22:56So it's gonna be interesting to see how William's doing that,
22:58what's his take on that, how he's making it pay,
23:01and what the future plans are.
23:02Arms up.
23:03William has already ruled out one obvious money spinner from his house.
23:08it becomes a takeover of the property for the period of time
23:11that you have contractors on site building marquees and everything else.
23:15That's not the business we're looking for.
23:17We're looking for a family home to co-exist with people
23:20who are enjoying holiday rentals here in this beautiful area of Yorkshire.
23:26William rents out cottages, most with a gentleman Jack theme,
23:31looked after by housekeeper Nina.
23:34We have got eight cottages and we've got North Wing.
23:38To do. OK.
23:39Yeah, they're the ones we look after.
23:41You're wearing my tea, aren't I?
23:44But William doubles as the Langton groundsman.
23:49You know, Will's great. I think he's very hands-on.
23:51You know, you sort of see him popping in one minute
23:53with the builders doing something,
23:55the next minute, you know, in his white shirt,
23:56he's out just cutting the grass a bit and, you know,
23:59so I think he's very hands-on and, you know,
24:02he clearly gets a buzz out of it.
24:04And I think that's wonderful.
24:05You want somebody that's invested in it.
24:08And, you know, it is his home as well,
24:10so he's going to take pride in it.
24:12Oh, it is mucky, though, isn't it?
24:13Yeah.
24:14What have they been doing in there?
24:15Well, there's so many people come here with nice spray tans.
24:20I was just going to say, is that fake tan?
24:22And go home like ghosts.
24:26Well, it'd be great to see inside the cottages.
24:27Let's go.
24:28Let's go.
24:30We have a bed to make.
24:31OK.
24:34Right.
24:34So this is Hussar's cottage.
24:36Ah, OK.
24:37Sleep six.
24:38Yes.
24:39Got guests coming in.
24:40Four o'clock.
24:40So we've got the hot tub sorted.
24:42Yeah.
24:42We need to make the beds.
24:43OK, excellent.
24:44I know how to do that.
24:46We'll see.
24:47Well, yeah, he might not be up to your standards, but...
24:50Guests check out at 10am, and then the new guests check back in at 4pm.
24:58OK, so you've got a short window, really, to get everything done, cleaned...
25:02So that's six hours, but that's for all.
25:05Yeah.
25:05So if you have them all checking out at 10am and all checking back in at 4,
25:09that's quite a lot of beds to take.
25:12So I think...
25:13Oh, right, yeah.
25:14You've got to get this the right way around, yeah.
25:15Yeah.
25:16And then how would you do it at home?
25:18I do ghost.
25:20My wife thinks I'm crazy, but it works.
25:22So you go from the other side, so you turn it inside out.
25:25Yeah.
25:25Like this.
25:26Right.
25:26Yeah.
25:27Yeah.
25:28And then...
25:29I need to know where the corners are.
25:32There.
25:33Like this, look.
25:35And that one there.
25:35Look at this!
25:36And then...
25:38Like that.
25:41Yeah.
25:43Fab.
25:44And then you just...
25:46Yeah, so...
25:48Kids love it.
25:48I run around pretending I'm a ghost.
25:50Excellent.
25:51Making the bed.
25:52My wife thinks I'm a little bit crazy.
25:54But one ghost brings real money into this house.
25:57We get a lot of people coming, purely because they have seen it on Gentleman Jack on TV.
26:03So TV tourists and...
26:04Yeah.
26:04So that's an important element, really, from the mountain putting it.
26:07Yeah, absolutely.
26:08Yeah, okay.
26:09Excellent.
26:09Not bad.
26:10Good.
26:10Not bad.
26:12Important though the cottages are, William is fighting a losing battle against the spiralling
26:17costs of keeping up his stately home.
26:20The reality is, and I can level with you, I can't afford to run a house like this just
26:25based on the income from my business in Leeds alone.
26:28We need to support it with some income on site.
26:31And Angus believes giving Langton back its heritage will help it attract more paying guests.
26:41So he and William are hitting the road again.
26:45In nearby Pickering, Angus is introducing William to a dealer in the sort of items needed to
26:51give Langton its period feel back.
26:54Ah, Luke.
26:56Hello.
26:56How are you doing?
26:57You all right?
26:57Yeah, good.
26:57Thanks, how are you?
26:58Brought to William.
26:59Hi, nice to meet you.
27:00Nice to meet you.
27:01And Debbie, good to see you here.
27:03Yeah, yeah.
27:04So Debbie actually helped us get quite a few of the pieces that we've got at Langton Hall already.
27:08Yeah.
27:09So, yeah, she's the spender.
27:11Debbie's got a great eye.
27:13Yeah.
27:13We've got two professionals and I'm in the mood for buying.
27:17So shall we have a look round?
27:18Yeah, let's have a look.
27:19Yeah, brilliant.
27:20William is prepared to spend £10,000 returning the tree room to the 18th century.
27:26Wow, this is lovely.
27:28It's really nice.
27:29So it's a modern one, but nice that it's...
27:32So this is in oak and I think the one we saw at Goldsboro is that kind of spray tan pahogany,
27:37if you know what I mean.
27:38Whereas this, I think, is a lot more subtle.
27:41Yeah.
27:41Yeah.
27:41The interesting thing about the bed is the vast majority of it is 25 years old,
27:47but the company that makes them, the top panelling and the headboard is actually made up out of Victorian oak panelling and then they use that to convert into beds.
28:00Debbie, you know, obviously we're looking at the tree room at Langton.
28:03Yeah.
28:03What do you think to a bed like this?
28:04I think this would look lovely in there, to be honest, Will.
28:06So I know the sheets will fit.
28:08Yeah, the sheets will definitely fit.
28:09But do you like it?
28:10But I do like it, yes.
28:11I would have this.
28:12Would you have it in your own home?
28:13I would have this in my own home, yes.
28:15I would.
28:15So, how much are we talking?
28:18So, on the bed, 2,650.
28:21William's taste for authenticity is growing.
28:25Even some real antiques now won't make the cut.
28:28This is a gentleman's country house.
28:30Yeah.
28:30And this pushes shabby chic too much into the shabby for me.
28:36No, that's fair enough.
28:37It depends what sort of look you're going for.
28:39Modern lighting is out now too.
28:42Let me get this Herbert Terry out of the way now.
28:45So, this lamp actually started off life as a candlestick.
28:49So, it's a Georgian candlestick, dates to about 1750.
28:53We've converted it to a lamp.
28:55But what's interesting for you and for the room,
28:57this is what they call a cannon barrel.
28:59So, taking the form of the naval cannons.
29:04So, for a gentleman's library or a gentleman's bedroom
29:07or something like that, it's just a nice nod to that sort of history
29:11and the military history to do with the house as well.
29:13Yeah, I was going to say, the military history of the family,
29:15and that is what they would have used in Langton
29:17when it was first built, but with candles in.
29:19I like the story of this.
29:21And I think, you know, we are coming at this from a, you know,
29:24a historical perspective.
29:26And I think it's nice, you know, that they've got this sort of cannon barrel,
29:30thinking about the hussars and thinking about the dragoons
29:33and thinking about Colonel Norcliffe, Norcliffe.
29:35And actually, you know, he was probably one of the last sort of proper lords
29:41of the manor at Langton.
29:42Yes, yes.
29:43So, if I buy the lamp, I can set Debbie on with finding a nice shade for it.
29:45You can, yeah.
29:46Yeah, definitely.
29:47But then you can tone that to the colours of the palette in the room as well.
29:51Really interesting piece, that.
29:53Love the idea that it used to be a candlestick.
29:56Love this story, like how it ties back in.
29:59Yeah, really, really nice piece, that.
30:01It's priced at £300 and William is sold.
30:06£250.
30:07I'd have to drop the other £50 off.
30:08Yeah, that's fine.
30:09OK.
30:09We know where you are.
30:10But William is not buying the bed, despite it having won Angus's approval.
30:15The most important thing in a bedroom is the bed.
30:17So, make that the feature and then sort of build around that.
30:20So, we've got a bit of work to do on that.
30:23If that's not going to tick the box, we need to try and find one,
30:26which might be tricky.
30:27But that's the main feature.
30:28That's the showpiece of the bedroom.
30:30So, it's kind of important we get it right.
30:34Thanks a lot.
30:34See you later.
30:35Cheers, guys.
30:36Bye.
30:40It's time to head back to the house, with only one item in the bag.
30:44I mean, talking specifically about the bed.
30:47Yeah.
30:48For me, it was a near miss.
30:50Yeah.
30:50OK.
30:51I felt like it was all the money.
30:53Yeah.
30:53Yeah.
30:54And it just wasn't quite the look.
30:56OK.
30:57I mean, I think I'll just have to have a look and see what else we can find
31:00and see what you think, give you some comparisons.
31:04And, um...
31:06Yeah, so you...
31:07Similar sort of style, you're thinking?
31:09So, I like the style, and I like the size,
31:13and I think it's a perfect size for that tree room.
31:15Yes.
31:16But I think it was just the colour of the wood
31:20and just the slight newness.
31:23Yeah.
31:23Yeah.
31:24OK.
31:26Angus's weekend stay is coming to an end,
31:29but his mission to refurbish the tree room is just beginning.
31:33I think there's a bit of a challenge here,
31:36but I think, you know, using my contacts through the auction world,
31:40interior designers and stuff like that,
31:42I think we could breathe heritage back into this house.
31:46Well, William, it's been an absolutely fantastic weekend,
31:51so thank you for having me.
31:52It's been an absolute pleasure.
31:54I mean, you know, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
31:56It's been so interesting.
31:58Well, we're not done yet.
31:59I'll be in touch, and we'll get the plan enacted,
32:01and we'll see you soon.
32:01Perfect.
32:02Brilliant.
32:02Absolute pleasure.
32:03Take care.
32:03Thanks again.
32:04Bye.
32:04Bye.
32:05Angus is taking off for his auction house,
32:09where he'll put out an SOS to his network of dealers
32:12to find the perfect furnishings for the tree room.
32:15It's been four weeks since Angus's stay
32:36at Georgian Langton Hall on the Yorkshire walls,
32:39and inside the tree room, things are changing.
32:43We've been super busy here at the hall
32:44since Angus left.
32:46So we've got Leanne, our decorator,
32:48who's here doing a lot of decorating at the hall
32:50for the next five weeks,
32:51and she's just jumped onto this room.
32:53She's got the wallpaper stripped.
32:55She's stripping back to get the detail
32:57back into the woodwork,
32:58which had hundreds of years of paint on it,
33:01and we're at the stage now
33:03where we're ready to pick finishes.
33:06But there's still a centrepiece to find
33:08for this period makeover,
33:09and Angus may have struck gold.
33:12Thanks for the heads up.
33:13I'll look inside.
33:14Cheers.
33:15Thanks.
33:15Bye.
33:17Well, I'm keeping my ears open
33:19and my eyes out for furniture
33:21for William's bedroom,
33:21particularly a bed,
33:23and one's come up on an online auction,
33:26a nice 19th century one,
33:27which I think will do just the job,
33:29but he's going to have to be quick
33:31if he wants it.
33:31And less than 24 hours later,
33:37it's arriving.
33:39Now then, Leon, how are you doing?
33:42You ready for this bed?
33:45Not too bad, this one.
33:46So this is from 1830,
33:49and it's got a pulsed headboard,
33:52valances,
33:54and then some really nice bits,
33:55so we're going to get it unloaded,
33:57and hopefully it'll go with all your good decorating.
33:59200-year-old beds are hard to find,
34:02and William had to act fast to land this one.
34:05It's a perfect bed.
34:07Only difficulty was,
34:08it was in Edinburgh,
34:10so it was a real drive to get it.
34:12So one evening,
34:13headed up there after work at about 4pm,
34:15and I think I rolled back in here at about midnight.
34:19Trading up to authentic furniture
34:21has its drawbacks, though.
34:23Worst thing is, being from 1830,
34:25it doesn't come with any instructions.
34:29On Angus's advice,
34:30the hunt is on for hidden relics
34:32that may have survived
34:33with the stripping of the house's contents.
34:35A Georgian fireplace, perhaps.
34:38I'm hoping that when I open this up,
34:40we find a lovely cast-iron fireplace
34:41that Leanne can really bring back to life again,
34:45and then perhaps integrate a small hearth,
34:47and bring some of those traditional period features
34:50back to the property.
35:00Oh!
35:02Hmm.
35:03Yeah, sadly.
35:11It's gone.
35:17Back at the auction house,
35:18in Kirby Moorside,
35:20Angus is adding a fireplace
35:22to William's wish list.
35:23But he's already come up with a solution
35:25to Langton's decor problem.
35:29Beautiful knockout.
35:30He's sent round North Yorkshire's leading stately home stylist.
35:34Nice to meet you.
35:34Nice to meet you.
35:34I'm Wakey.
35:35Hi, Wakey.
35:36Hi, Harriet.
35:36Hi, Harriet.
35:37Yes.
35:38Thank you for asking us to come and see you.
35:40Welcome to Langton Hall.
35:41Come in.
35:42Harriet and Wakey are experts in Georgian-style trends,
35:46and they've come to offer some advice.
35:48So, welcome to the tree room at Langton Hall.
35:51I'm really excited to see what you've got.
35:52So, we've got a sort of a brand can for us, haven't we?
35:55We bought you an ideas board,
35:57so you can actually visualise what we've decided on,
36:00and then two separate mood boards,
36:03which will give you an instant feel
36:05of how the room should look.
36:07When Gentleman Jack stayed here,
36:10the UK already had a network of interior designers
36:13offering a complete look to the London gentry.
36:16Well, the Georgians, they love their symmetry,
36:20and they were so keen on bringing architecture into the house,
36:23which works so brilliantly.
36:24So, big windows, lots of light coming in.
36:28The fireplace was always central in the room,
36:30because then it's a straightaway point and a fixture to look at,
36:33and they had pediments above the doors,
36:36they put data rails around.
36:38They were so keen to create this feeling of grandeur
36:40because they'd made so much money, the Georgians,
36:43and they wanted to build these amazing houses
36:45which just spoke for them.
36:47People would come, they'd arrive,
36:49and they'd turn up at the door, and they'd go, wow.
36:51And that fireplace is the most urgent purchase.
36:55Now the bed is bought.
36:56Speak to Angus, I'm sure something can be picked up and found.
37:00We've put some examples of Georgian fireplaces
37:02on for you to have a look at.
37:04And so you see how they did it.
37:07To replace Williams' B&Q vinyl,
37:09they've stolen an idea
37:11from one of Yorkshire's grandest houses, Castle Howard.
37:15The Georgians were brilliant with their panelling,
37:18and they were super clever.
37:21This is just a bit of moulding,
37:22so it's nothing remotely exciting.
37:24And it would be on the walls like that,
37:28sort of going round the whole way.
37:30And it was a way of just creating an impact.
37:34But from your perspective, very cheaply creating an impact.
37:37And there's an example of it here
37:39in this beautiful room at Castle Howard,
37:41which is in a very similar colour to the blue hue we've done here.
37:44So if you don't want to put the mouldings back up,
37:46a very simple way of doing it
37:47is you paint underneath the data rail,
37:50you'd wallpaper above,
37:51and that would instantly create another fabulous effect.
37:56So we've given you two ideas and two choices to run with,
37:59and both which are traditional to the style,
38:02so it worked really well.
38:03Now, that scheme, to me, looks a bit fresher.
38:07Yeah, lighter.
38:08Well, and you're the client.
38:09So at the end of the day,
38:10you've got to be able to walk out of this room and go,
38:12I love it, it's fabulous,
38:14it's just how I want it to look.
38:15We can't stamp our thing on it and then walk out.
38:18And you go, oh, no, I don't like that at all.
38:21And you know the house far better than us.
38:25So for William, it's a gopher green in the tree room.
38:32Thank you so much for today.
38:33Absolute pleasure.
38:34And obviously, we'll be in touch about all the fabrics.
38:36Thank you very much.
38:37So I'm going to take that and see Leanne now.
38:39Thanks again.
38:40Thank you. Bye.
38:40Thank you. Bye.
38:43Funnily enough, I think I would have done the blue one.
38:45I probably should have said the green,
38:50but I think probably a bit like you, Harry.
38:53I quite like the depth of the blue,
38:55but he did have a good point that it's not a very light room.
39:04Oh, there it goes.
39:05It's two months since his last visit to Langton Hall,
39:08and Angus is back.
39:11Hi, Ivy.
39:12Hello, Angus.
39:13William is anxious to gain his Georgian guru's approval.
39:19Since Angus has been, we've done loads around the house.
39:23The main thing has been, obviously, the tree room.
39:26I've absolutely set about it,
39:28and I've probably gone a bit further than I expected to.
39:31We did the panelling in the end.
39:33We put up the ceiling rows,
39:34found a gorgeous period four-poster bed,
39:36but really excited to show Angus that tree room.
39:39So, Angus, it's your first impression.
39:47What do you think to our remodelled tree room?
39:51My word.
39:52You've been busy, William.
39:55So, first impressions.
39:58Wow.
39:59Really, really, wow.
40:02I'm impressed.
40:03Are you?
40:03Yeah, no, seriously.
40:06I'm just taking it in.
40:08I think the colours are spot on.
40:10Yeah.
40:11Brilliant.
40:11I love the colours that you've done the panelling.
40:13The panelling's new, isn't it?
40:14Yes, yeah, absolutely, yeah.
40:16That's really nice.
40:18In fact, it's...
40:19The ceiling rows is new.
40:21Yes, yeah, that's been added.
40:22That's quite nice,
40:23because I think you've done well.
40:24It's subtle, it's not.
40:25It's in keeping with the moulding,
40:26so I think that's lovely.
40:28The bed, the furnishings.
40:31Curtains.
40:31It's obviously all new.
40:33Yeah.
40:33Wallpaper, right?
40:34Do you know what?
40:35It feels really warm, sort of cosy room.
40:39You know, it's a really pleasant room, isn't it?
40:41And with Angus's help,
40:43this transformation hasn't broken the bank.
40:46With a total spend of just £9,400,
40:49the project's come in well under budget.
40:54The result, absolutely worth every penny.
40:57Really, really happy with the, you know,
40:59the room as it stands.
41:01We've got things like this panelling, so...
41:04I mean, this feels like it's been here
41:06since day one, doesn't it?
41:07Absolutely.
41:08But this is standard beading
41:10from your local builders' merchants,
41:11down in Moulton.
41:13I think it's just given an original feature back,
41:17even though it's brand new.
41:18So that was the first thing.
41:19I mean, it's great.
41:20I mean, I think the panelling,
41:21you would think it was here
41:22from the day it was built.
41:24So that is spot on.
41:25Absolutely spot on.
41:26And there's your lamp that you've got off-loop, yeah.
41:30He got the bed,
41:31and then he's had all the soft furnishings done,
41:33and that all ties through
41:35with the colour scheme of the room.
41:37That's the costly bit, actually.
41:39I mean, you can get the furniture
41:40for next to nothing,
41:40you know, a few hundred pounds for it.
41:42You'll spend a lot more on soft furnishings.
41:44But, you know, you can get that look
41:46without necessarily spending a fortune.
41:47You know, antique furniture is cheap.
41:50You know, it is so cheap.
41:53You can get the country house look
41:54for next to no money.
41:56I was really pleased to see Angus' reaction
41:58when he walked into the room.
42:00It just gave me that level of reassurance
42:02to say, I've done it right.
42:04He's a very knowledgeable guy.
42:06To get Angus' seal of approval
42:08on the room that I've done
42:09was really important to me,
42:11and I do think I got that today.
42:13Oh, Willie, well, thank you so much.
42:15It's wonderful to see the room,
42:16and thank you for having me for the weekend.
42:18It's been an absolute pleasure, Angus.
42:19You're a gentleman,
42:20and thank you so much for your advice
42:21that you've given me.
42:22Really appreciated it,
42:23and I'm so happy with the tree room.
42:24Well, all the best, and catch up soon.
42:27Thanks again.
42:27Cheers.
42:27See you soon.
42:30In fact, William is so delighted
42:32with the tree room's return to the 18th century,
42:35he's now setting to work
42:36on Langton's remaining 11 bedrooms.
42:40Absolutely delighted.
42:41I think, you know, William's pleased as well,
42:43and I was a little bit worried
42:44that, you know,
42:45maybe he wasn't that into the idea,
42:47but he's really gone with it,
42:49and he's got an amazing result.
42:51He's got a fantastic room, very comfy,
42:53and, you know, guests are going to come and stay here,
42:55and they're going to feed that back,
42:57and he's going to get those lovely comments.
42:58I'm sure he will.
42:59So, yeah, brilliant,
43:01and I know where I'm staying
43:02next time I come over.
43:03I'll see you soon.
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