The Restoration Man

When Nik Huddy and Vanessa Ford Robbins stumbled upon this overgrown 19th century gatehouse, they saw an opportunity to express their love of arts and crafts in restoring this tiny cottage to its former glory. They both throw themselves into learning the traditional techniques deserving of this gatehouse’s fascinating history. But their can-do attitude is severely tested as they live on-site in a caravan through two freezing winters. Even when they move in, this charming gingerbread house is still too small to install a proper bathroom. A year on George catches up with them now that they have added a sympathetic extension to the house, which brings life-changing modern comforts to their home without once compromising on the heritage of this unique building.