This House Podcast

The Leper Chapel dates from around 1125 and is the second oldest building in Cambridge. Now run by the charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future it is open to the public. In Series 2 Episode 4 of the This House Podcast - Liz Barker meets volunteer and Manager of the Cambridge Colleges Conservation Consortium Flavio Marzo to discuss its rich history from hospital to the famous Stourbridge Fair and place of worship. Flavio talks about his fascinating work as an expert on book binding and restoration as well as another historically important building in Cambridge he wishes to restore next. Don't miss Flavio's infectious interview bringing this building to life.  

Lucy Copeland runs Howbury farm flowers from Howbury Hall’s Victorian garden in Bedfordshire. She and Cissy Bullock from Wildstems and the sustainable school of floristry talk to Liz Barker about their work and passion for British flowers. 

Lucy Copeland runs Howbury farm flowers from Howbury Hall’s Victorian garden in Bedfordshire. She and Cissy Bullock of Wildstems and the sustainable school of floristry talk to Liz Barker about their work and passion for British flowers. 

George Evennett of George Evennett Limited is an architect who has transformed his own home a former post office in a village in Cambridgeshire using the most eco friendly materials - come with Liz Barker as George takes us around his house and shares his ideas and techniques for the design.  

Historian, teacher and expert guide Thomas R Wheeley MA gives Liz Barker an extensive tour of Hinchingbrooke House in Huntington to kick off series two of the This House podcast. Come with them through the corridors and hear stories about one of the most historically interesting schools in Britain. From residents The Cromwells and Montagus and famous events, the Mediaeval nunnery and ghost stories to the present day, now as a place thousands of children learn. Tom brings it all to life in this exciting and informative episode. 

In the last episode of series one, Holly O'Brien the digital and events content producer for The David Parr House Charity discusses this hidden gem with Liz. The David Parr House epitomises the exact premise of the This House Podcast - behind an innocuous looking terrace facade in Gwydir St Cambridge there lay a beautifully designed homage to the Arts & Crafts period. Created by David Parr over 40 years it stayed in his family as a normal home until one day being discovered, and now we the public can visit and see the intricate skill deployed by a craftsman who worked for William Morris for ourselves. An important part of Cambridge's history and social history, showing a way of life over a hundred years it is also a love letter to the art and design techniques once used to decorate grand houses, churches and palaces. This homes is like no other. An audio tour with volunteer Nicky Moreland is available for members that subscribe or visit the house yourself to truly see what episode 10 tries to convey. The David Parr House Charity organises many workshops and events, please follow on social media for more information.  

Nicky & Mike Maddin live in Perks Close, a beautiful 500 year old thatch cottage, the fun loving couple from London talk frankly about looking after a piece of village history and the change from city life to village life, the history of their home and the journey they have had to settling in an old property. This episode looks at thatch cottages and as an added extra bonus there is an interview with Luke a thatcher of 30 years discussing this still secret craft and a video of a new thatch roof from start to finish available on the YouTube channel to accompany episode 9 in series 1 of the This House Podcast. 

Christine Schwick shares Kingfisher her converted watermill home on the river Bure in Norfolk, Liz discusses the history of this 1798 building & 1086 Mill, the village of Aylsham and living on Bure river is bought to life with video footage and photos to accompany this episode on the This House instagram page. Christine is also in the process of renovating Bure House on the other side of the river and Stanley cottage which came as part of the estate. It's a fascinating look at life on the water and a Georgian house stripped back to it's bare bones.   

From naming your house to bringing it back to life, actor Julia Swift takes us on her house journey, filled with love, enjoy her beautiful voice as she shares interior design tips, memories and her renovation of 2 Frog End, Pithayes, a house and garden straight out of a Jane Austin novel.      

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live in a windmill? Ben Gardiner tells Liz about the fascinating history of Barrington windmill and what living in one entails. He also offers an insight into running an Airbnb, with lots of lovely archive available through his website of the surrounding villages.