Restoration Home: Being the private eye of the past

Dr Kate Williams, Caroline Quentin and Kieran Long

BY Kate Williams
BBC

The private eye of the past, in Caroline Quentin's words, is my role in Restoration Home.

As the social historian on the series, my job is to investigate the histories of the six properties on the show, and the people who lived in them.

Each one has been an incredible journey of discovery - into stories of war, inheritance, scandal, elopement, betrayal and true love.

The six houses are not only impressive and original in an architectural sense, they also have histories that I could hardly believe when I began researching in the archives.

Moreover, their stories tell the story of Britain - the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, enclosure and social changes.

My research was a case of visiting archives and museums across the country - some public and some private.

I spent days deep in fragile wills, maps, letters, diaries and portraits as the wonderful stories of the houses became clear.

The camera shows my moments of discovery - behind them lay hours of work with giant boxes of documents and letters.

At times, it seemed as if the answers would never be found - and then the most incredible sources turned up.

At the same time, my fellow investigator, architectural expert, Kieran Long was working hard on the architectural histories of the properties.

I was fascinated by his findings about architects, design and craftsmen - his discovery of the Smethwick makers of the stained glass window of Pensford Church was just one of the wonderful things he found.

It just shows how fortunate we are in this country to have such comprehensive and well-kept archives.

I receive many letters from people hoping to research their own houses.

Every house is different, but any researcher would find local archives and record offices invaluable.
Some archives and record offices are housed in your local museum or library, others have their own stand-alone building.

Wherever they are, they are a treasure trove.

There is often information there about the designers, architects, builders and occupants of the most ordinary looking houses.

Our small island is crammed with an incredible history - which touches every part of our lives.

I loved all the periods featured in the show, but I was particularly fascinated by the stories from the 18th and 19th Centuries.

It's impossible to pick a favourite, but I loved reading about the different families who had owned Stoke Hall and Stanwick Hall.

As well as the scandalous history of Calverton Manor, and the stories of rescue for Pensford Church and the Pumping Station.

And the electoral shenanigans of Big House, the final property in the series, are pretty hard to beat.

I became entirely caught up in the history of the properties - and I often find myself talking in the present tense about events that happened hundreds of years ago.

It's impossible not to do so when you have histories as fascinating and exciting as those for Restoration Home!

Dr Kate Williams is a social historian and one of the presenter of Restoration Home.