Secrets of Ghent - Medieval Castles, Art Heists, and Flemish Wonders

Discover the art and challenge of historic building restoration as we revive ancient castles and medieval homes across England. See how original features are brought back to life! In this episode of Project Restoration, we journey to Herefordshire, Worcester, and Kent to follow passionate homeowners and skilled craftsmen tackling ambitious restoration projects. Watch as urgent sandstone repairs are made to Wilton Castle, a breathtaking site that combines a Victorian farmhouse, Tudor manor remains, and a 13th-century castle. Learn how Alan and Sue Parzlow carefully balance modern updates, like installing glazed windows, with historical accuracy while racing to meet their deadline. In Worcestershire, John Bevan uses traditional carpentry skills and locally felled oak to save his cruckhouse’s medieval kitchen, preserving original timbers and employing age-old joinery techniques. Meanwhile, in Kent, Glen Beamsen and a restoration expert reveal the painstaking process of stripping away decades of gloss paint to unveil the natural beauty of 15th-century oak beams. Throughout the video, you’ll gain insight into the restoration techniques that safeguard our architectural heritage, from lime mortar repairs to honest restoration practices that respect

Step back in time as we uncover the secrets of medieval Plimpton! Join us as we dig beneath the streets to reveal 700-year-old mysteries and forgotten buildings. In this fascinating episode, the Time Team investigates the medieval origins of Plimpton, Devon, starting from the iconic motte and bailey of Plimpton Castle. Watch as archaeologists and historians race against the clock to uncover the original layout, boundaries, and high-status buildings of this Norman town, using geophysics, excavations, and historic maps. From discovering ancient fireplaces and timber beams to reconstructing the grand medieval marketplace, we reveal how much of the 12th- and 13th-century town still lies hidden beneath modern Plimpton. Explore the process of dating buildings with dendrochronology, analyze pottery and glassware from the trenches, and see how architectural clues inside ordinary homes help piece together a bustling medieval community. We also investigate the town’s unique burgage plots, ancient boundary lines, and the possible remains of a deer park, all while unearthing stories of the powerful Dredvers family and the town’s strategic role in Devon’s history. Whether you’re passionate about medieval archaeology

Step into the lost world of Roxburgh - once a thriving medieval city, now just a quiet field. What happened to Scotland’s vanished metropolis, and can archaeology uncover its secrets? Join Time Team as they launch a thrilling three-day excavation at Roxburgh, one of medieval Scotland’s four great cities. Using cutting-edge geophysics, aerial photography, and limited but strategic digging, the team searches for clues beneath a seemingly empty pasture near Kelso. Discover how Roxburgh, founded by King David I, became a wealthy trading hub, rivaling Edinburgh through its wool and cattle trade, only to disappear without a trace. Watch as the team uncovers defensive ramparts, ancient roads like Market Street and King Street, grand stone houses, and the elusive St James’s Church, piecing together a city lost to history and time. This episode brings to life the drama of medieval Scottish politics, economics, and warfare. Learn how Roxburgh’s strategic location on the Scottish-English border made it both a prize and a target, leading to its decline after Berwick fell to the English. Through rare archaeological access and a race against

Step inside the mysterious halls of Howth Castle and discover the fascinating connections between Irish history, Jonathan Swift, and even Bing Crosby! Explore legends, literature, and hidden stories. In this immersive journey, we wander through Howth Castle, uncovering tales of pirate queens, ancient battles, and the enduring legacy of the St. Lawrence family. You'll hear about the legendary sword of Sir Almerich St Lawrence and visit the castle’s historic library, once graced by Jonathan Swift himself. The video delves into Swift’s wit, his sharp political satire, and his colorful connections to Ireland and London, offering insight into his most famous works, including Gulliver’s Travels and the Drapier Letters. But the adventure doesn’t stop in the past. We leap forward to the 1960s, when global superstar Bing Crosby, proud of his Irish roots, chose Howth Castle as the backdrop for a special TV broadcast. Hear firsthand recollections of Crosby’s visit, learn about his family’s journey from Cork to America, and see how Irish culture continues to inspire across generations. This video is a blend of history, literature, and pop culture

Discover how a Dorset village garden revealed secrets from the Iron Age, Medieval times, and even a possible 4,000-year-old henge - all in just three days of digging! Join Time Team as they investigate the remarkable village of Wadden, Dorset, where pottery finds and mysterious earthworks hint at a hidden history stretching back millennia. In this episode, the team unearths evidence of Iron Age roundhouses, explores the ruins of a medieval building, and stumbles upon what could be a Neolithic henge - all within the gardens and fields of modern-day residents David and Grace. Through expert archaeology, landscape surveys, and experimental pottery-making, you’ll see how layers of history are peeled back to reveal the story of continual occupation, from ancient Britons to the present day. Watch as geophysical surveys, hands-on excavation, and historical research combine to solve the puzzle of who lived in Wadden and how they shaped the landscape. Learn about Iron Age pottery, medieval kilns, and the everyday lives of people over 4,000 years ago. This is an inspiring journey through time, proving that even the quietest corners

Step into the Cotswolds as archaeologists uncover a mysterious Roman villa with stunning mosaics, ancient coins, and secrets that rewrite local history! Join Time Team on a three-day excavation in Cobbleley, Gloucestershire, where centuries-old Roman buildings lie hidden beneath a tranquil field. This episode delves into the fascinating process of identifying the remains of what might be a villa, bathhouse, or even a temple. From the first glimmers of mosaic tile and pottery fragments, to the discovery of grand architectural features like apses and colonnaded porticos, our experts piece together the story of a site that saw continuous occupation from the earliest days of Roman Britain to its very end. Watch as specialists debate the true function of the site - was it a wealthy farming estate, a religious sanctuary, or something more complex? See rare finds unearthed, including coins from the reign of Emperor Claudius, intricate jewelry, and a remarkable mosaic featuring symbols like the cantharis and Gordian knot. Uncover evidence of industrial activity, clues to ritual significance near ancient springs, and the surprising possibility of Christian iconoclasm in