Country House Rescue

Ruth Watson meets Cornelia Bayley, owner of Plas Teg, a Grade One listed Jacobean mansion that has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 1610.

Riverhill House is an 18th century rag stone manor set in 130 acres of historic gardens. Four generations of the Rogers family live there including 87 year old great grandmother, Evelyn Rogers, who has lived in the grounds since the end of World War II.

Carnfield Hall is a hotchpotch of Elizabethan, Victorian and Jacobean architecture with a 16th century great parlour and a staircase dating from 1628. James Cartland, bought Carnfield Hall as a complete wreck 22 years ago and single-handedly restored the house to its former glory.

John Phillip's family have lived on the estate of Heath House since the 16th century, and the house has stood since 1840. John and wife Flavia took over the property on his mother's death, but now in their 70's they are finding the property, along with over 480 acres of land, a financial and physical drain.

The Kellys live in Kelly House in Kelly village, Devon, which overlooks Bodmin Moor, but this historic home is in a sorry state, and with no money for repair Ruth Watson is on hand to help save this national treasure from ruin.

Whitbourne Hall is a Grade II listed Palladian mansion nestled in the Worcestershire countryside. This magnificent house was built in 1860 by the wealthy Bickerton Evans family, but over the years they struggled to keep the estate going.

Abbey Dore Court is set in 150 acres of Herefordshire farmland. The house was bought by Charis Ward in 1967 for £12,000 and, up until 10 years ago, the house was a happy home where Charis' children and grandchildren grew up.

Gissing Hall in Norfolk is an impressive country mansion that was built in the early 1820's. It fell into a state of disrepair after years of neglect but was given a new lease of life when William and Ann Brennan bought it in 1986 after seeing an advert in the Sunday papers.