Restoration Village - from Friday 28 July 2006, 9.00pm, Â鶹ԼÅÄ TWO
Introduction
Your countryside needs your Restoration vote
Ìý
Restoration today called for the public to participate in saving Britain's beleaguered
rural heritage.
Ìý
The Â鶹ԼÅÄ TWO ratings hit is to return to our screens with a move to the countryside.
This summer Restoration Village will call on the public to participate in
saving precious buildings around the UK but with the focus on rural life.
Ìý
A total of 21 buildings around the UK – unveiled today in conjunction with English
Heritage and other heritage bodies - will be up for the public vote with the possibility of securing crucial funding to ensure their future.
Ìý
This new incarnation of the series presented by Griff Rhys
Jones will this year focus on buildings that have previously been historically important to a local rural community.
Ìý
And could be again.
Ìý
Says Griff: "I am sure we all have a private view of England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and I bet it probably involves a village and a deserted road with a cottage in the foreground and green fields swelling in the rear.
Ìý
"I'm sure we've all seen just such a village and somehow feel that such places correspond with our feelings of security and warmth and our sense of place, hearth and home. And so it should.
Ìý
"But the truth is that the countryside everywhere is facing change and disruption over the next hundred years. It is going to be a challenge to all of us to manage that change.
Ìý
"Restoration is going out to the countryside to look
at buildings and the landscape and offer up another 21 fascinating
causes looking for help.
Ìý
"It is these neglected ordinary familiar landmarks
of the country that we need to save: barns, chapels, farmhouses,
inns, workshops.
Ìý
"Restoration Village is a fantastic opportunity to see what we value and why on the rural scene."
Ìý
Among the contenders are slate quarry workshops in Wales, a Yorkshire Gothic
Revival folly which had a practical purpose as a corn mill, Scotland's oldest
surviving purpose-built lighthouse and the only complete Moravian (pre-Reformation
Protestant Church) settlement in Northern Ireland.
Ìý
But there are also numerous examples of distinctive churches, town halls and examples of rural industry, which were all at one time pivotal for their community but are now at a point where they need major financial input to secure their future.
Ìý
Each week Griff and ruin detectives architect Ptolemy Dean and
surveyor Marianne Suhr will profile three architectural gems within a region
of the UK and ask viewers to vote for which one should go through to the final.
Ìý
Seven finalists from around the country will then be put
forward for the ultimate public vote. A surprise eighth finalist will
also join the line-up – this will be the runner-up that receives the most
viewers' votes across the series.
Ìý
The winning building will be in line to receive the money accumulated throughout the series.
Ìý
The grand final will be held at Weald & Downland Open Air
Museum. The fascinating location features a collection of 45 rescued
historic buildings set in beautiful parklands in the South Downs.
Ìý
In addition to the television series, there will be also be roadshows in each region showcasing the crafts used in restoration - from stonemasonry to lime plastering and thatching.
Ìý
Roly Keating, Controller of Â鶹ԼÅÄ TWO, says: "In 2003 and 2004,
Restoration uncovered a passion in the country to help restore valuable but very
needy heritage projects and buildings, which could be lost to us forever if they
didn't get more support.
Ìý
"After a year's break, the series has come back to address a very specific need – that of Great Britain's rural communities, whose heritage is relevant to everyone, but is in very grave danger of being lost amid a catalogue of problems facing the countryside and its people."
Ìý
Managing Director of producers Cheetah Television, Nikki
Cheetham, says: "Although we are offering Â鶹ԼÅÄ TWO viewers a pleasurable
series - there are plenty of classic country cottages, village duck ponds, rolling
hills and of course, colourful characters - the programmes also demand a true
interactive commitment.
Ìý
"Viewers are being offered the chance to make a real
difference to Britain's built heritage"
Ìý
Chief Executive of English Heritage, Simon Thurley, says: "Restoration
Village will undoubtedly raise the profile of rural buildings at risk and the
passionate commitment that communities have to their local heritage, and rightly
so.
Ìý
"Increased attention can only help in finding a viable
future for these important buildings by attracting fresh ideas and new
uses and partnerships."
Ìý
Transmission details from Restoration Village and details of the roadshows will be available on the website bbc.co.uk/restoration.
Ìý
There is also a book of the series, published by English Heritage, featuring each of the chosen buildings.
Ìý
And there's more - an accompanying series on Â鶹ԼÅÄ FOUR will see Restoration's
ruin detective Ptolemy Dean on a personal quest to find Britain's perfect
village.
Ìý
In this seven-part series, The Perfect Village, Ptolemy will take viewers on an intellectual journey throughout the UK, visiting a variety of different villages from your typical chocolate box setting to the more modern village in his quest to find the perfect one.
Ìý
Each episode will feature two villages linked by a theme from the reality and myth of the village to the wealth and its influence on village development.
Ìý
Printable version