Secrets of Historic Britain

In this episode Alan Titchmarsh will map Hardwick Hall, an extravagant sixteenth century mansion sitting atop a hillside in Derbyshire, with it's outrageous glass frontage and six turrets it was a wonder of its time. It was the fabulous home to Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury or as she is better known Bess of Hardwick.

Alan Titchmarsh explores Stowe in Buckinghamshire. Known for its world famous landscape garden in late eighteenth century Britain. It's a grade one listed mixture of striking architectural feats, imposing temples and iconic bridges, together with the striking neoclassical mansion that is now a school.

Alan Titchmarsh visits Waddesdon Manor once the home of the fabulously wealthy Baron Ferdinand De Rothschild, whom after losing his beloved wife at 35 devoted the rest of his life to building the glorious house and estate.

Alan Titchmarsh explores Workhouse, which was famously immortalised in Charles's Dicken's 'Oliver Twist'. Situated in Nottinghamshire, Alan Titchmarsh will tell the story of the horrors that went on within these walls and other similar Workhouses across the country.

Alan Titchmarsh explores Cragside, a stunning gothic revival house once home to William Armstrong, the commoner who caught the attention of the world and was even courted by royalty for his remarkable achievements in hydraulic power, shipbuilding and armaments.

Through exploring Castle Ward Alan Titchmarsh will discover a house of split personalities that bore witness to lunacy, attempted murder, ground breaking science and tragedy. Through meeting family experts, pouring over shocking family wills and unearthing locked away scientific marvels Alan will reveal this grand house and its turbulent past.

Alan visits Wrexham, North Wales to explore a mansion as grand as any in the National Trust collection, but Erddig is a stately home with a difference.

Spread out over a stunning nine hundred acres Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire is a spectacular mansion which was built through a mixture of courage, creativity and brotherly love.

Set on the shores of the beautiful Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland is one of the most glorious houses in the National Trust Collection, Mount Stewart. Recently having undergone an eight million pound restoration the mansion is back to it's sparkling early twentieth century best.

In Cheshire, encircled by a protective wall and with an ancient herd of fallow deer roaming the grounds sits the glorious Georgian mansion Dunham Massey. It was the home of the Earl of Stamford who built the home we largely see today and being a canny financier filled it with an elaborate silver collection.

Sitting within the picturesque Dorset Landscape is the imposing country house and vast estate of Kingston Lacy. It was the home for over three hundred years to the Bankes family whose nearby home Corfe Castle was destroyed during the English Civil War.

Surrounded by the glorious North Somerset countryside is one of the finest Victorian homes with- in the National Trust collection, the Gothic masterpiece that is Tyntesfield. It was home to the richest non noble man in Britain, William Gibbs who was known for his fervent faith and for hitting the jackpot in the Guano trade.