In the latest episode of George Clarke ’s Remarkable Renovations, the architect meets James, who has had a 15-year love affair with a former glassworks in Brighton. The instalment, which airs on Wednesday, July 20 discovers James has finally managed to buy it and has grand plans to restore the whole property. With half a million pounds to spend, it should have been easy.
The building in question is directly behind Regency Square in Brighton on Regency Muse, which has a variety of small businesses, including a stable house. Over the years, the building went through a number of different uses until James and his Spanish partner, Ellie, bought the battered empty shell in 2015 for £650,000.
Originally built as a stables in the 19th Century, it became a car workshop before changing use again in the 20th Century and becoming a glass factory. During this time, it made windows for Brighton’s grand terraces, now James is determined to convert it into a home.
Upon seeing James’ purchase, George says: “What on earth have you bought?”, to which the buyer replies: “This is an old Victorian glass factory. It’s been abandoned for a good 20 years.” James tells him that he “had his heart set on [the] building for over 15 years” and despite owning it for four years, he's now set out to make it his ‘ideal’ home - something which George says he’d need “rose-tinted spectacles” to achieve.
Inside, the building’s potential becomes transparent for George. He comments how he loves the arches in the ceiling and the columns going down the space on the open plan ground floor. James tells him that it was this that attracted him to the building. Ellie, meanwhile, supports her partner and commends him for his “drive and determination.”
Downstairs, James details how he wants to retain the open plan layout, in order to create a flexible work space. For the middle floor, he talks of his intention to divide it into four bedrooms, each with their own en-suite. Seeing it, George comments: “As tired and gritty and knackered as this is, it’s really cool isn’t it?”, whilst James emphasises his intention to keep as many of the original features as possible.
Cut to March 2021 and work finally begins on the property, almost two years later due to the pandemic. The builders in charge of the project, initially, have a challenge on their hands as over the years, rain water has damaged the property. They install steel beams to brace the building. The builders also dry-ice blast to restore some of the building’s original wood.
Later that summer, the builders lower the middle floor of the house in a bid to create a third floor in the rafters of the property. They, again, take care not to damage the original features. According to George, James’ decision to not to get rid of the property’s wooden floor makes no sense “financially” but this, again, confirms his dedication to the building’s history.
After seeing a huge amount of timber that James wants to restore into a kitchen, George calls it a “genius idea”, due to the fact that the wood has been ageing “beautifully”.
December 2021 comes around and James shows George a staircase that he has installed in the property, something he describes as “perfect” for the building. George casts doubt on James’ desire to move in by the end of the year, as “every single room is unfinished.” Despite this, he is impressed by the sheer amount of work that has been done.
Three years since he first started the project, James has restored every last detail of the original glassworks. A flint façade, full width doors and beautiful roof terrace have all been brought back to their original state. Of the project, James says: “It did take a while but I wasn’t going to cut corners.”
Downstairs, George is impressed by the practical workspace that has been kitted out for modern living. He says: “It looks stunning,” to which James replies: “When you’ve got a space like this, it doesn’t need changing.” He says that he is happiest with the old front doors of the building.
On the middle floor, what was once a decrepit shell, has been revived with unique and stylish bedrooms. A shocked George says: “As soon as you walk in, it’s got a really calm feel to it.” He carries these same feelings when he sees the property’s new, “absolutely perfect” roof terrace.
“It’s just been an enormous, ingenious restoration project,” George concludes, as he congratulates James on his new ‘home’. But James has a final surprise for the presenter… He’s selling the house.
Whilst taking on the enormous project, he describes how he came to realise that his relationship with Ellie was more important and he, therefore, was moving to Spain to live with her, despite spending over £650,000 on the build.
George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday, July 20. It is also available to watch on All4.
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