Stories

The National Trust has opened their doors to Channel 5 for a new series which airs every Tuesday at 9pm, which will explore the estates, historic houses and miles of breathtaking countryside and coastline that we look after.

Across six, 60 minute episodes, host Alan Titchmarsh will find out about our conservation work and, with the help of some of our specialists, discover the stories hidden behind the buildings and gardens in the new series, Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh.

During each episode Alan will  explore a new location where he will take an in-depth look at the history of the property and meet the people who look after it. Alongside this, a host of other experts and enthusiasts, including Anneka Rice, Jon Culshaw and Joan Bakewell, will take you on a tour around the country with one-off films.

Catch up here before episode 5!

Episode Recaps:

Episode 1: The treasures of Knole 

Alan Titchmarsh goes behind-the-scenes of Knole to discover how the priceless treasures are being saved from the cold, damp and decay. He crawls between the walls in search of superstitious rituals and meets the researchers cataloguing the smells and sounds of Knole’s priceless antique furniture.

Episode 2: Hill Top – The inspiration for Beatrix Potter 

In the Lake District Alan finds out about the area that inspired some of our best-known children’s books and tells the tale of their author, Beatrix Potter. Elsewhere, Oz Clarke meets the team at our Plant Conservation Centre and Jon Culshaw discovers the extraordinary collection at Snowshill Manor.

Episode 3: Wealth and power at Attingham Park 

During this episode, Alan visits Attingham Park to tell the incredible story of the 2nd Lord Berwick, the extravagant 19th-century owner who squandered the family fortune. Anneka Rice goes fly-fishing on the River Test and Lisa Holloway is in Norfolk at one of the world’s leading textile conservation studios as they set about restoring a 430 year old tapestry.

Episode 4: The Industrial Revolution at Quarry Bank 

At Quarry Bank, Alan learns about the people behind Britain’s Industrial Revolution, uncovering the true stories of the child workers. Oz Clarke climbs the battlements of Dunster Castle and historian Dan Jones joins an archaeological dig on the South Coast.

Episode 5: Preserving our heritage at Lyme  

Airing tomorrow, March 7th!

Alan rolls up his sleeves to help the specialists working hard to maintain Lyme in Cheshire, from winding the 50 clocks throughout the house to vacuuming a 17th century tapestry. Dan Jones goes panning for gold in Wales and Jon Culshaw visits one of the most famous trees in the world at Woolsthorpe Manor.

Episode 6: Unearthing medieval history at Fountains Abbey  

airs on March 14

Exploring Fountains Abbey, Alan learns about the monks who lived and worked there over 800 years ago and meets the researchers who have recently discovered the burial site of more than 2000 monks that had been hidden for centuries. Anneka Rice learns the historic technique of spade making at the last working water-driven spade mill in Britain and Miriam O’Reilly spends a night out on the South Downs with the our bat experts.