Restoration Man: Victorian Water Tower (Before and After) | History Documentary | Reel Truth History 

Oooooohhh!! I LOVE it when George adamantly says "You can't think of it like a bachelor pad, it's got to be a proper family home." I could kiss him for saying that. She is so lovely.

Andy says "We've just bought a water tower." THEN rings Anna to tell her. He doesn't LOOK at her, he doesn't refer to her with any affection, doesn't stand next to her or physically make any kind of contact with her. BODY-LANGUAGE-WISE there are big problems here; SHE is IN the relationship. He doesn't know what a relationship is. He doesn't even know how lucky he is to have her be interested in him (and his poorly designed home).

Lovely work but, other than Anna's contribution of the cobbled floor on the top level, it reminds me of half a dozen office buildings I've worked in over the years.

That poor wife. I don’t think she had any role at all in house. She seems sad

There was an elevator shaft/stair way right in the middle of the building!!!! Use it!!!! Why take out massive iron beams and replace them with puny steel beams? Why have a staircase take up a third of the space??? The final build lost all sense of expanded space. It felt cramped. This was so frustrating because the building was magnificent but the final design was just wrong.

31:56-32:07. Notice the look on his face when she dared to joke about him being a control freak. His whole countenance changed to a kind of simmering anger "you'll pay for that later" distant stare. I actually fear for that woman's mental and physical well-being. Cant believe they televised this abusive relationship.

I rarely comment on anything but I feel so sorry for Anna... The house interior is so empty and does not look like home at all. He will lock her in that tower and not let her live. Run away from that horrible man Rapunzel!

Love the exterior of the building and Andy did a great job restoring it but my knees would give out if I had to walk up that many flights of stairs; they need an elevator. His partner didn't seem to happy she wasn't included in most of the decision making.

Coming to the comments to see if I'm the only one that thought that guy was a total d-bag and I see that I'm not. 😬That poor woman. He bought the building without talking to her about it, sold their home, moved them in with his parents, and she didn't even get a say in the restoration. I can't believe she stuck around that long.

I have found architects don't always see practicality, such as dumb waiters, intercoms & a lift. It seems that that Anna didn't have much input into the design of the place. That water tower is both their homes not just his. His response, and the way he said it, of the pebble floor says it all, "It wasn't my idea." What a put down for Anna.

Get the feeling he is an only child, he's legend in his own mind, his poor wife has no voice.

I am reading about the chap being an architect, and now having this in his portfolio at AEW Architects but several media companies describe him as 'heading up a team who design McDonalds restaurants'.... which is hardly rocket science given they're all so alike. Every article I read is about him, Andy Critchlow. Not one mention of Ana which is a shame. I wonder if she is still living there, I'm trying to find out. Everything revolved around him. I think he refused the ideas which George gave Ana for making life easier and I don't think she had a say in decor as every floor was so bland. I liked her 'pebble beach' at the top and he even said 'not my idea' as he distanced himself from it. She said she was from Devon but was completely ignored. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Beautiful building but Ana seemed unhappy.

Shoulda had a lift, an intercom, a vacuum, storage closets. It's a bachelor pad! Bet he wouldn't listen to Anna's suggestions.

Finally got the sound right! Music wasn't so loud you couldn't hear them talking!

the fact he said "...no real idea whether we were going to buy it, ... 1/2 an hour later walked out [of auction], phoned anna and said WE'VE just bought a water tower." no no you bought it and gave your wife no choice in the matter, making her have to give up their old house and move in with his parents after he's just spent their money lol

I get the feeling that the husband was / is so bull headed that he nixed any of ideas that were shown to the wife at the other tower.

I’d not be able to sleep at night if I knew my kids could fall 150ft from the stairways. A tragedy waiting to happen, cost aside, solid glass and beam floating floors at each stair exit level would be the only safe measure, but the ceiling height would still mean a 4 metre drop.

they literally could buy any new build apartment and got the same feel. and saved a lot of money.This is shockingly bad

Poor mans wife looks like she hates it

To transform this water town was such a great opportunity, but I also think it could have done way better... It is not practical at all... Like the intercom, vacuum system, etc is missing.... and most likely the elevator... bring up the grocery to the 2nd floor in the kitchen... no thanks... And that weird living room - dining room - kitchen - construction would bother me so much as well... And it seems so tiny beside it has so much space actually...

I suspect the reason they don't have the most important things to make this a livable space is because he said no to them. They need a dumb waiter, laundry shoot and a central vacuum system in a place like this. Great building, but who wants to stagger up and down that staircase. The room layout is not striking either. I think this was his deal and it had more to do with architectural possibility than making a home.

I am pretty sure the wife wanted the features that she was shown in the other tower of a central vac system and an intercom but id bet my money her husband refused it. Like she said she was the one who would be doing all the cleaning so why would he care about something that isn't his problem. Not to mention i would have left as much brick exposed as it adds character and I can also only imagine how hot the roof room will be in the summer with all that glass.

If you can afford to build something like this, you can afford to buy a vacuum cleaner for each floor so that you don't have to worry about lugging it up and down. I think they missed an opportunity to put in a lift as there was more than enough room for one.

“not my choice” = emotional abuser.

I love the Victorian water tower. I also think the presenter Mr. George Clark continues to make everyone of his presentations very articulate & precise

Lovely old building but if I couldn't have a lift I'd never have even considered it as a home. And why on earth did they build the observation room down behind the brickwork at the top rather than making it level with the top of the walls & adding a railing so you could see the view when seated?

It would make a great water tower.

Central vacuums have been around HERE for over 50 years. My Gran had one and it is nice not to have to lug the vac but you still have to lug the long hose around.

awesome video

Great finishes. But, Anna will regret not having a laundry chute or elevator if they decide to have children. Of course, this was filmed ten years ago, so they may not even live there anymore.

Thank you George for such an interesting program... I love seeing old building brought back to life....

Decided lack of interior design and IT SHOWS. There's a kind of sterility which tells me that Anna had nothing to do with the 'choices' made. Someone is VERY CONTROLLING and more interested in CONTROL than RELATIONSHIP. Even the 'Art' is stuff made in a factory; NOT ACTUAL ART. Everything here is 'canned'. Very sad, because the building itself is warm and full of character.

In Australia, we have neither attic’s nor basements 😔 it’s way too hot here for attic’s, it would probably be a major fire hazard but I do wish our homes had basements. Basements are great for a range of purposes whether it’s for a home cinema where the sound would be far easier to isolate from our neighbours, or my favourite, as a cool and dark room for storing of home made preserves and particularly so if it’s clean, producing cured meats and cheeses. If I could afford to build my own home, I would definitely include a large basement.

The internal is average. The could have repurposed the central shaft into a lift. No bbq in the outdoor roof area ... ack

This is definitely not my favorite.. it needs an elevator. No room space and to heat it must be horribly expensive.. that is “ his” house not hers ...she is too nice

Andy, the builder, was offended by George, the host, attempt to psychoanalyze him. He looked angry when Ana told him that George thinks Andy is over controlling and overbearing. He didnt care to comment on that observation. Personally, I don't think this is a forever home. They'll eventually sell this especially when time comes Andy naturally develops some chronic conditions of ageing body- they'll need to transition to a more practical home.

Poor Anna being used for her money and dragged into something she didn't want. George's joy is palpable, will watch anything he's in.

I like to see the strength of Anna and how she walks along side Andy. A string and beautiful couple. I hope they stay together and continue to work in and throughout life with this strength and understanding of the other in their combined life. Precious and priceless.

Great job

Gorgeous! Thoughtfully done! Congratulations🌋

A third of it is just stairs.

Imagine carrying the groceries up to the second floor....OR carrying food up to the terrace for a BBQ. This tower would have used a lift for sure...

Elevator? your knees over the years would take a beating..trust me.

She's not happy!

The son and father cursing at each other, the guy is so rude to his dad, total turnoff.

Superb, but just look at the GSM transmitters on the neighboring tower to know that the place is uninhabitable ...

I love the beach on the top floor :-). I want it for my bedroom!

wow! Amazing work :D

For the first time while watching this series, I was disappointed. I thought the layout was careless, uninteresting and without consideration for everyday common issues. My thoughts on the ascetics are that of a static office. Who wants to live in an office. It was totally without style.

It’s ok , see better design, I did not take to Andy , seems a right arrogant little man, and she never got a word in edgewise. Anna, sell it, get you share and run .

I'd of put in glass floors by the steps ( instead of having all the wasted space ) to of reclaimed some floor space and still let the look of having a huge grand open stair case.

awesome content

Never handle power tools 50 feet up in anger ...

"Drinking something liquid"😂😂😂😂😂 I'd love to see him drink something solid

Bravo!

Incredibly Amazing 😃👍.

I get the sense there was and still is a fair amount of friction in this relationship over this build... His choice, her choice... very little "our choice".

They want a family, imagine kids and those stairs, a nightmare!

That modern water tower near the old one is destroying my mood and view

Finally a completed building!

The best !

WOW I can only think of the Lovely work

Not a house for children or the aged. Young couple or bachelor pad with roomies. But either way a fantastic building.

Would be perfect rental rooms...

beautiful

That’s not a nice restoration at all. It’s a very nice building and that raw interior empty space had so much more potential. And the guy it’s an architect!!!

Gorgeous result!!!

Walking through the sewers is a real testament to the host’s commitment to historical background! Bravo!

What a waste. The could've lived in the most amazing 6000 sqft house, and he decided to live in an apartment building looking home. 1/2 of the tower devoted to the staircase. What a waste!

Lindo demais 👏👏👏❤ from Brazil. One of the most beautiful restoration I have seen on this serie. 👏👏👏🥂!

beautiful and love the decor, only thing that missing for me is cupboards in the bedrooms

The home is all right. They definitely need an elevator. The vacuum idea is amazing but of course they didn’t use it. But most of all that woman was so unhappy. You could see it on her face every time. She was so quiet. Even when she was directly spoken to. And that man is horrible. Horribly selfish horribly inconsiderate. I don’t like him.

I would have kept the old riveted beams, even if they had to be repositioned to get the floor level right. I would also have made they staircase around the central column ala the original drawing, would have taken up less floor space. And a lift, albeit costly, in the central column is almost a need in such a tall building, you never stay young forever, and why not kept some of the cast iron pipework on the ground floor as a reminder of the original function? the entrance hall wouldn't be compromised at all by it space wise. And I would position the kitchen/diner and lounge on the upper floor, connecting closely with the new roof lounge and with even better views at times of the day you have your eyes open! The bed rooms are closer to the laundry room that way and hauling laundry down is kept to one floorlevel only.

Why but why did you not build a lift in the middle of this beautiful watertower?

You can tell he wasn't considering kids, he put the main bedroom on the top floor and "guestroom" which would be the kids room on the bottom floor. Yikes.

IDK, Loved Loved the look of the original building & was so looking forward to the results. But it was quite disappointing. Very plain & blah. Cannot believe that he didn't incorporate a small lift. Especially for his aging parents, or if she became pregnant, or even if someone breaks an ankle or leg. Not even a dumbwaiter of sorts. IDK, she just really didn't look the least bit happy. He didn't really allow her much input at all. And the space just didn't seem well used. It was really very disappointing. But, I am not the one that will be living there.

She must be the most unhappy woman in a whole universe, they do look like a housemates rather than a couple

Why wouldn't they incorporate the steel beams into the top floor? They could have had it exposed on the bottom and/or lay the floor flush with the top of the higher beam to create an interesting flooring

What an amazing home wow!!

Amazing what they have done with that building.

Amazing, but does need a lift.

Lovely restoration but horribly impractical if you have little children.

They do not look like a happy couple!!!

Sad there is no bath or hot tub!

I love the “watch Tower” roof💙😎

Having to watch the disfunction of these two after the devotion of the couple in the Reeds Mill episode, (which I sobbed my way through) is so difficult. Sweet Anna needs to watch Reeds Mill and find herself a husband like that!

I would’ve made The lower two or three floors extend all the way through the building. That way they would have some beautiful open spaces and eliminate the scary looking drop from an open staircase. If bedrooms and the living space occupied the first and second floors that would’ve obviated the need to climb up and down all of those stairs. The top floor could’ve been double height perhaps if they wanted to add some grandeur. The rooftop addition is pretty cool in order to have the terrace and view. There is another water tower program from Norfolk where the dad is a delightfully off his rocker creative type who managed to create a pretty amazing space and the family was involved. His wife and sons gamely supported his efforts and appreciated his hard work. One son even worked with him throughout the project, albeit finding his dad endearingly bonkers but capable. I had much more sense of simpatico and that it became a real family home, especially when he built a side tower thereby creating more living space on the lower floors.

Ok, I love these docos, I do! The one thing that drives me up the wall about them and makes me stop watching though, is the repetition. Twenty minutes in, and I have just been told for the THIRD time what year they bought it, how much they paid ect ect ect. Two minutes ago, I was being told for about the third time in five minutes that the roof has to come off and be put back on. Really - why? An average adult watching this forty seven minute video is capable of remembering what the couple risked in order to restore it. We can remember that for the whole 47 minutes without being reminded every five. P.S. I totally covet their water tower home.

Awesome he turn it into a Castle cheers mate🤘🏾💪🏾💪🏾

I don't really understand this layout, it doesn't make much sense to me. Why would you put the livingroom/kitchen in the middle of the building. I would put it on the top floor, so you have the best views. You don't need a great view from the bedrooms, so those I would put a level lower. Also, if you want to eat on that great roof terras, it's much more comfortable if the kitchen isn't 2 floors down. And I thought they were talking about making a family home? Then why do they have 3 double bedrooms with just ¨adult¨ size beds, why not make a nice kids room for the future kids? And I would have done a spiral staircase, it takes a lot less space and it's more beautiful in my opinion.

They really did build such beautiful infrastructure during the Victorian period, I wish they built like that in Australia but we have very few beautiful historical buildings. 100,000 pounds including 1 acre of land is a true bargain.

I wish they would do a 2020 where are they now series.

It's wonderful to keep an open mind, when building I got tunnel vision and wish Someone would have given me some advice. Where where you George??

Still looks great years later!

They did a grand job with the layout & stairs, but it lacks personality. It feels very anonymous. They're going to regret not putting in at least a small one person lift. No problem when you're fît & under 30 with no kids to run after. Being on crutches would be hell.

Lovely house😍

STUNNING!

would be a lot better with an interior designer

They are going to regret not installing a lift when they have a baby and toddler or two to carry up and down those stairs, even more if a future child has a disability or serious medical condition. Bad planning there. Also gran and pops can't visit when they become frail, and why no doorbell??

Paramedics worse nightmare if someone collapses on the top floor too