Secrets of Britain's Historic Houses and Gardens
TV Show · Documentary · Special Interest

Every year, millions of people flock to the historic homes and gardens looked after by Britain's National Trust. But out of the sight of the many visitors lies a hidden world. Behind closed doors, dedicated teams work on keeping this priceless heritage alive. This documentary offers a glimpse behind the velvet rope into National Trust properties ranging from the huge to the humble.

2023 · 58m
Starring Jim Carter
Director James Ross, Sam Roubicek

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Hardwick Hall, Biddulph Grange Garden, Belton House
    Go behind the scenes at some of the UK’s most magnificent houses and gardens. At Belton House, conservation is taking place on an art treasure. But could the painting contain a hidden mystery? At Biddulph Grange a beautiful Chinese bridge is painstakingly rebuilt, while Hardwick Hall must save a 450-year-old table from collapse before it goes on a North American tour.
    58m
  • EPISODE 2
    Sissinghurst Castle & Bateman's
    Head behind the velvet rope and go behind the scenes at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, former home of writer Vita Sackville-West. Her writing room is in danger of collapse, including a collection of phone numbers she scrawled on the wall. Can experts save it? Another literary legend, Rudyard Kipling, made a manor called Bateman’s his home. But could his priceless writing desk have woodworm?
    58m
  • EPISODE 3
    Forthlin Road, Hardman's House, Dudmaston
    Gain exclusive access to the childhood home of a music legend. Forthlin Road, Liverpool is the house Sir Paul McCartney grew up in and is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Beatles. It’s been lovingly restored, but there’s still one project the team need to tackle. Dudmaston Hall in Shropshire holds works by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. But one masterpiece may be rotting away.
    58m
  • EPISODE 4
    Cragside, Seaton Delaval Hall, Cherryburn
    Cragside was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. It is filled with engineering marvels, but now the team must carefully restore and replace a priceless clock. Seaton Delaval Hall was home to a family whose hard-partying lifestyle led to them being dubbed the ‘Gay Delavals’. But can conservation experts repair a painting that may have been damaged by a champagne cork?
    58m
  • EPISODE 5
    Ightham Mote, Chartwell, Smathhythe Place
    In 1922, needing a countryside retreat, Winston Churchill bought Chartwell House in Kent. Now open to the public, it contains many items owned by the great man. But one of its prize possessions, a relief model used during D-Day, needs essential repair. A few miles away, Ightham Mote, England’s oldest surviving medieval moated manor, has an insect problem that’s eating a precious artefact.
    58m
  • EPISODE 6
    Mount Stewart, Castle Ward and The Argory
    Beside the waters of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland lies Mount Stewart, the historic seat of the Stewarts. Now a team of experts battle to save unique dodo and dinosaur statues in house’s extensive gardens. A few miles away, in the architectural wonder of Castle Ward, a portrait could hold a hidden story. While in The Argory, a Victorian garden seat undergoes restoration to its former glory.
    59m

Trailers

  • Secrets of Britain's Historic Houses and Gardens
    1m
  • Secrets of Britain's Historic Houses and Gardens
    1m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • J‌C
    Jim Carter
    Narrator
  • J‌R
    James Ross
    Director
  • S‌R
    Sam Roubicek
    Director
  • E‌W
    Ekta Walia
    Producer
  • S‌S
    Sarah Spencer
    Producer
  • S‌B
    Sacha Baveystock
    Producer

About

Secrets of Britain's Historic Houses and Gardens

Documentary

Every year, millions of people flock to the historic homes and gardens looked after by Britain's National Trust. But out of the sight of the many visitors lies a hidden world. Behind closed doors, dedicated teams work on keeping this priceless heritage alive. This documentary offers a glimpse behind the velvet rope into National Trust properties ranging from the huge to the humble.

Information

Studio
True Royalty
Released
2023
Rated
PG
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 2023 Blast! Films

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United Kingdom) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)