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0:00:25 > 0:00:28Towards the Modern House
0:00:28 > 0:00:32- Our chronicle of the houses - of the Welsh countryside...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36- ..reaches a more familiar layout.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41- This time, we examine the social - and architectural elements...
0:00:42 > 0:00:46- ..that led to the development - of the modern house form.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- What do we mean by the modern house?
0:00:53 > 0:00:59- A building with a central hallway - and rooms off it on either side.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- This convention - is so familiar to us...
0:01:03 > 0:01:07- ..that it's hard to believe - that it wasn't always this way.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12- But this type of architecture - was once considered to be radical.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- Ask a child to draw a house.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26- It doesn't matter what kind - of house the child lives in.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- The house will be square, - with windows across the top.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35- It'll have a central door, and smoke - will billow from its chimney.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- We can learn a lot - from this picture.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- Essentially, - this is the modern house.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51- Pictures and samplers created - by children 150 years ago...
0:01:51 > 0:01:53- ..show symmetrical houses.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04- This image is somehow embedded - in our minds as the ideal house.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- This new house, - with its symmetrical design...
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- ..became popular across the country.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- It eclipsed distinctive regional - vernacular architecture.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28- Thousands of houses were built - or adapted across the country.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- They were all based - on the new, symmetrical design.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- The modern house was born.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- This is Ty Faenor.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- It's a classic modern house.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07- Surprisingly, it was built - in the mid 17th century.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11- This important prototype - of the new house in Wales...
0:03:11 > 0:03:15- ..was built here in Abbey Cwmhir.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- It was originally - a symmetrical house.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23- A central door, windows on either - side and chimneys on both gables.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25- Where did the windows go?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- In the late 17th century, - a new tax was introduced.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- It was based on the number - of windows in each house.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40- The obvious move was to block up - windows at the front of the house.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- That saved money - and evaded the taxman's scrutiny.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- The modern house - was tall and square...
0:03:48 > 0:03:50- ..rather than long and low.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- In that respect, they were - very different from hall houses.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- The modern house - superseded the hall house.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- I'll hold on tight - to this very heavy door.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- There was no porch in the old days.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- You would enter the house - through this magnificent door.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19- The boards used in this door - are very wide and very long.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- These iron hinges are original.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24- They're held in place - by dozens of nails.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- This proves that the people - who lived here were very wealthy...
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- ..because nails were expensive.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- However, the door - isn't the most striking feature.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- That honour goes - to this amazing staircase.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45- It's special - because it's a central staircase.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- That provides a balanced design.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- The dog-leg design - offered access to every room.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- There was no need - for galleries or corridors.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- The staircase does it all.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- This is simple and familiar to us...
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- ..but it's impossible to overstate - how revolutionary a design it was.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- This is the earliest example - that we have.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22- It's a substantial staircase - and was designed to be just that.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32- The fret-cut balusters, - the newels and huge finials...
0:05:32 > 0:05:38- ..shout out that this - is a fashionable new design.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00- The stairs in earlier houses - often spiralled behind a fireplace.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04- You also had to walk through - one room to access another room.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09- Now, the central staircase - facilitated a new way of living.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- Another feature - of this symmetrical design...
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- ..was a chimney - at either end of the building.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- That made it possible - to have a fireplace in every room.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- The number of pots - on each chimney...
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- ..told the world - how many fireplaces you had.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- Ty Faenor was built - as a hunting lodge...
0:06:42 > 0:06:46- ..for Richard Fowler - of Harnage, Shropshire.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- Despite his huge wealth, - he recycled stonework...
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- ..from another part of his estate.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- The abbey of Abbey Cwmhir - is less than a mile from the house.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- Built by Llywelyn the Great...
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- ..it fell into ruin after Henry VIII - dissolved the monasteries.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- John, it's claimed - that this house...
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- ..is built of stones - taken from the abbey.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43..the Fowler family bought the estate.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48The estate encompassed most of north Radnorshire.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50It was a huge estate.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58They used the stones from the abbey to build their own hunting lodge.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- Richard Fowler - must have been a wealthy man.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Yes, money was no object for him.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07There's a famous poem about him.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Poor Radnorshire. Never a park and never a deer.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And never a gentleman of five hundred a year.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Except Richard Fowler of Abbey Cwmhir.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19- He owned this, of course.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Yes, and the local people were very envious of him.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27It was the grandest house in the county.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- What evidence is there - that the stones came from the abbey?
0:08:32 > 0:08:36The evidence is under our feet.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Let's look for it.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44- Is this what you mean?
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Yes, there they are.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51If we remove these and look at the stones...
0:08:51 > 0:08:54..you'll see that they have been shaped.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58They came from a door or a window.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04This is a similar shape, but it's more rounded.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10It came from one of the abbey's central pillars.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- This is like medieval Lego!
0:09:14 > 0:09:19Yes, but there are no small studs to help them click together.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23The back of the stone is flat, of course.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30To build the house, they turned them back to front.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35The flat surface of the stone was on the outside...
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- ..and the decorative, curved edges - are all on the inside.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43That was done in many houses.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- It's really clever.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00- By the 17th century, modern houses - were being built across Wales.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- Early hall houses were redesigned...
0:10:03 > 0:10:08- ..to give the impression - that they too were modern houses.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14- This house points the way - to the future.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- Symmetrical houses - with central staircases...
0:10:18 > 0:10:22- ..sprang up all over Wales - in the 18th and 19th centuries.
0:10:39 > 0:10:39- .
0:10:45 > 0:10:45- 888
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- 888- - 888
0:10:53 > 0:10:59- To understand the modern house form, - we have to look at previous forms.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05- Here at Old Beaupre, - we have a pre-modern house...
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- ..that was remodelled and extended - in Renaissance fashion.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16- The Renaissance had a huge impact - on the whole of Europe...
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- ..from the 15th century onwards.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24- Science, the arts and architecture - were all transformed.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33- The journey towards the modern house - in Wales starts here.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40- This ruin shows the influence - of the Italian Renaissance...
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- ..on architecture in Wales.
0:11:47 > 0:11:53- The original L-shaped house - was built during the 14th century.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- It was completely transformed - during the 16th century.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- The manor was arranged - around three inner courts.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09- This layout was inspired directly - by Renaissance designs.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- The main approach is through - a magnificent gatehouse.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- It boasts fluted pilasters - and the Bassett coat of arms...
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- ..which bears the motto - Better Death Than Dishonour.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- It's dated 1586.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- The exterior - would have been smooth and white.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41- This was undoubtedly - an important local building.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46- But the gatehouse only hints - at the grandeur within.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21- The main reason - for visiting Old Beaupre nowadays...
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- ..is to see this amazing feature.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- This porch is breathtaking.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28Yes, it's remarkable.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Personally, it's one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35It was built in 1600 by Richard Bassett.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39It's on a par with the best porches built in England...
0:13:40 > 0:13:45..in places such as Kirby Hall or Oxford's Bodleian Library.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51It's an incredible piece of architecture.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Richard Bassett wanted to show the world...
0:13:56 > 0:14:00..that he was an educated nobleman who was immersed in the new culture.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05This new culture was introduced to England and Wales from Italy.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09To demonstrate that he was indeed a modern nobleman...
0:14:10 > 0:14:15..this porch proved his knowledge of architecture's classical orders.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19These are Doric columns at the base.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23These stood in some of the earliest Greek temples.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Further up, there are Ionic columns.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33They represent the later development of Greek architecture.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38The columns at the top are playful and ornate.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42They represent Corinthian architecture.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47This porch was built to demonstrate how fashionable Richard Bassett was.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51He knew about the very latest European fashions.
0:14:51 > 0:14:57He teamed grandeur with grandeur to create greater grandeur.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59That was the whole point.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- Beaupre is a French name, - so was this castle built by Normans?
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Yes, it was built by the Bassett family.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Many people have mistakenly called it Beaupree over the years.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19The Bassett family came from Beaurepaire.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22In French, basset means short and stocky.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27Beaurepaire, their family home in Glamorgan...
0:15:28 > 0:15:31..means a beautiful relaxing haven.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35They were Normans, but Welsh blood came into the family.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37They even sponsored poets.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42The family was totally Welsh by the 16th century.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47- Let's go through the porch - into the original building.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- We think of fireplaces - and chimneys...
0:16:27 > 0:16:32- ..as heat sources for the house, - but chimneys were a status symbol.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37Yes, and they were crucial in the whole modernization process.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Having a chimney to extract smoke from the rooms...
0:16:42 > 0:16:46..was a very important part of modernization.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50It was one of the biggest social changes that happened...
0:16:50 > 0:16:53..to create modern architecture.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Chimneys and fireplaces were essential.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Before the addition of fireplaces and chimneys...
0:17:00 > 0:17:03..everyone lived together in a hall such as this one.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- The Renaissance - influenced more than architecture.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Yes, much more.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13It was a new culture.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18The Italians taught us that spitting in your home...
0:17:18 > 0:17:20..was socially unacceptable.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24They taught us not to wipe our noses on our sleeves...
0:17:24 > 0:17:26..but to use a handkerchief.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30They taught us what was socially acceptable.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32The Italians taught us how to behave.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36They educated their children in grammar schools.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41The children were taught both Greek and Latin grammar.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42It was a new culture.
0:18:06 > 0:18:12- Despite its grandeur, Old Beaupre - descended down the social scale.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- By the 18th century, - it was a farmhouse.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17- It's a crying shame...
0:18:17 > 0:18:22- ..that one of the most fashionable - houses of the Tudor period...
0:18:22 > 0:18:23- ..is now derelict.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- At the Royal Commission archive - in Aberystwyth...
0:18:42 > 0:18:47- ..over 1.5 million pictures, plans, - drawings and documents are stored.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- It's a real treasure trove - of information...
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- ..and it's all accessible - to the public.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04- The Renaissance, which influenced - the architecture of Old Beaupre...
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- ..had become prevalent across Wales - by Elizabethan times.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13- Plas Mawr in Conwy...
0:19:13 > 0:19:19- ..is one of the most impressive - Elizabethan town houses in Britain.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25- Robert Wynne started the work - of building the main house in 1576.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28- That's astonishing.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- Plas Mawr has a profusion - of Renaissance detailing.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- They include pediments - above the windows...
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- ..geometric plaster ceilings...
0:19:39 > 0:19:44- ..heraldry and female figures - supporting cornices.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52- It has always been fashionable - to put a date outside a house...
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- ..or even inside.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- Some houses have Anno Mundi dates.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02- Anno Mundi is a date calculated - from the world's supposed creation.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08- Sometimes, as at Penisa'r Glasgoed, - Bodelwyddan, both dates are shown.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13- There's an inscription noting - that it was built in 1570...
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- ..and in Anno Mundi 5552.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27- Bodfel Hall in Llannor - near Pwllheli is interesting.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30- This three-storey gatehouse...
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- ..has an entrance - recalling a Roman triumphal arch.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- It was created for a huge mansion - that was never built.
0:20:42 > 0:20:48- The family's fortune was lost - in the Civil War in 1641.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- They were forced to slum it - in the gatehouse!
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- The mansion was never built.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- The new architectural style - was sweeping the country.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07- By the 17th century, - it had spread to the whole of Wales.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- Even farmhouses were modernized.
0:21:18 > 0:21:18- .
0:21:22 > 0:21:22- 888
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- 888- - 888
0:21:32 > 0:21:37- The journey towards the modern house - has evolved over a period of time.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- Various architectural developments - influenced each new generation.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49- Mandinam farmhouse near Llangadog - is no exception.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- At first glance, - it's a magnificent Georgian house.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00- It has great symmetry, - wonderful windows...
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- ..and chimneys on both gables.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- But the longer you look - at the front of the house...
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- ..the more you start to realize - that all is not as it seems.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- There seems to have been - a bigger gap around that window.
0:22:17 > 0:22:24- There are other details - that don't seem Georgian.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- What we have here - is the skeleton of an old house...
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- ..that's wearing a Georgian coat.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- The original house - was built in the 17th century.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45- It was a house of great stature - in this rural area.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50- This area has royal connections.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- Charles I's illegitimate daughter - may have lived here.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- On the morning - of Charles's execution...
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- ..Jeremy Taylor, - his former chaplain...
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- ..was seen at the prison - where Charles was held.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- He gave him some jewels...
0:23:07 > 0:23:11- ..and told him to go to Mandinam - and marry his daughter.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- He was to sell the jewels - and use the money to build a house.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- This is that house.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23- Jeremy Taylor made big changes - to the house during his life.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- It was transformed again - in the Georgian era...
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- ..thus creating a complicated - architectural jigsaw.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35- What can you tell me from looking - at the front of the house?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- It resembles a Georgian house.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- You soon realize - that the front has been raised.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46- It was a much lower house - originally.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50- You can see that clearly - when you look at this gable.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- You can see a line coming down - from the chimney...
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- ..almost as far - as the tops of the windows.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- It wasn't a square-faced house - when it was built originally.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- It was much longer across the front.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10- It's certainly far older - than the Georgian period.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- The front of the house - has been changed completely.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19- The windows and the front door - have been moved.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22- It looks like a double pile house.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- It has been like this for 200 years.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- It wasn't a double pile house - prior to that.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- It was a T-shaped house.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35- Let me show you what I mean.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39- This would have been - the front of the house.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41- The T would be back here.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- The original staircase was here.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- The front of the house - and the front door would be here.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54- This corner was squared off.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57- That became the kitchen.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- The other end of the house - was also squared off.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- That created - a square Georgian house.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- It also created - a double pile house.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- Let's go inside - to look for more evidence.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- Has this staircase always been here?
0:25:19 > 0:25:24- In the original T-shaped house, - this is where it would have been.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- But this isn't - the original staircase.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- This Georgian staircase - was moved here from somewhere else.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36- It was in the stem of the T, - not in the main body of the house.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- We can see the old boundaries - from the thickness of the walls.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46- The walls on either side are thick.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51- The form of the original - T-shaped house is obvious.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56- The extensions were built - behind these walls 200 years ago...
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- ..when it was converted - into a Georgian house.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- The kitchen is much bigger - than the original kitchen.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07- There's an additional drawing room - on this side.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- People's needs and expectations - were changing.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- This is a reflection - of those changes...
0:26:14 > 0:26:17- ..as people climbed - the social ladder.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- There must be - more Georgian features upstairs.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- When the house was restructured...
0:27:03 > 0:27:08- ..architectural detail was added, - such as decorative plasterwork.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16- New windows and fireplaces - were also added.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- Alwyn, you're an architect.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- As such, where would you - place this house...
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- ..on the timeline - towards the modern house?
0:27:28 > 0:27:33- The original house dates back - to the early 16th century.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37- When you consider the T-shape - and the location of the stairs...
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- ..we're not looking - at an early modern house.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46- Having said that, - it certainly ploughed a new furrow.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51- That's especially true - when you consider its location.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56- I think that it bridges the gap - between traditional Welsh houses...
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- ..and the Georgian house - that was to follow.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Developments at Mandinam - in the early 19th century...
0:28:14 > 0:28:19- ..prove that a new architectural - trend was gaining momentum.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23- This was the start - of the Georgian period.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43- Great House in Laugharne...
0:28:44 > 0:28:47- ..is an early Georgian house - from the mid 18th century.
0:28:47 > 0:28:53- Like Mandinam, it's a double pile - house, but this is a town house.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- Georgian architecture - was based on perfect symmetry.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00- At times, it bordered on obsession.
0:29:07 > 0:29:08- This is Great House.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- It is great, isn't it?
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- These walls were rendered - and were smooth.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22- The exterior would have resembled - the houses opposite.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27- The windows were slightly different, - but it's magnificent.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- This door-case has caught my eye.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38- It's extremely grand - for a West Wales town house.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41- It has Corinthian - reeded pilasters...
0:29:41 > 0:29:47- ..and a broad-bracket cornice - with foliage entablature.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- It may be - that this impressive door-case...
0:29:50 > 0:29:56- ..was salvaged from an internal door - at Rhyd-y-gors near Carmarthen.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00- How would an internal door-case - fit an external door?
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- It has been extended - to raise its level.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11- It certainly suits - this Georgian town house.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37- The symmetrical design - is evident inside the house too.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40- A central hallway - with two rooms off it.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48- At the end of the hall, - there's an arch that is off-centre.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53- It breaks the symmetry, - but frames the wide staircase.
0:30:53 > 0:30:59- Stairs were a status symbol - and became a key part of the design.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14- Only when you reach halfway up - the dog-leg staircase...
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- ..do you appreciate how big an area - the stairs actually occupy.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25- This magnificent staircase - takes up a huge chunk of this house.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28- Ladies needed wide stairwells...
0:31:28 > 0:31:33- ..so as not to crush their dresses - as they swaggered downstairs.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- You'd perhaps expect to see - this sort of grandeur...
0:31:40 > 0:31:43- ..in a London town house - from this period.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- You wouldn't expect to see it - in Laugharne.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51- Hardwood handrails were crafted - in gentry houses, but this is pine.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54- The spindles are quite primitive.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- The spindles in a gentry house - in England would be flawless.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05- This is a rustic interpretation - of a more sophisticated design.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- We're talking here - about the can-do Georgian period.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14- It was a new dawn, - and architecture was changing.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17- You could buy large panes of glass - by this time.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- That's why these windows - are so enormous.
0:32:22 > 0:32:27- Natural light floods into the house - and this was revolutionary.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32- Never before had enclosed spaces - been so light.
0:32:54 > 0:32:59- The architecture and design - of the Georgian period...
0:32:59 > 0:33:03- ..was a huge leap forward - towards the modern house.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- It was symmetrical, luxurious - and practical...
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- ..and each room - had a designated function.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14- It brought us far closer - to the way that we live today.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20- Simplicity was important - in Georgian times.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24- Clean lines, painted panels - and subtle fireplaces...
0:33:25 > 0:33:28- ..created a civilized - yet simple setting.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- The house was divided into two, - both structurally and socially.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- The servants would work - in the rear of the double pile...
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- ..tucked away, far from view.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- The owners lived - in the important front rooms.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11- They're wonderful, comfortable, - square rooms.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14- The large windows face the road.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Every visitor to Laugharne - could see into the house.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23- That was considered important - to the status of the owners.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- The decoration is simple.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- You could say - that it's very conservative.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34- The different shades of paint - give the panels extra depth.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40- There are shutters on the windows - of this comfortable room.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43- It was an elegant style - and continues to be.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47- Small wonder that it swept - across the country like wildfire.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52- You could almost say - that it killed vernacular design.
0:35:07 > 0:35:07- .
0:35:09 > 0:35:09- 888
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- 888- - 888
0:35:20 > 0:35:25- Countless Georgian town houses - were built across Wales...
0:35:25 > 0:35:29- ..in the late 18th - and early 19th centuries.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32- The same is true - of the whole of Britain.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35- There's very little - regional variation.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45- This modern revolution...
0:35:45 > 0:35:51- ..had an architectural influence - on Wales's finest manor houses.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58- Llanerchaeron is a small - gentry estate in Ceredigion.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- It was designed - by the architect John Nash.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06- He introduced the new Italianate - style to rural Wales.
0:36:08 > 0:36:14- One of John Nash's characteristics - was the surprise staircase.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20- When you walked - into one of his houses...
0:36:20 > 0:36:25- ..you'd enter a fairly light hall - before entering a darker hall.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28- That's when you'd discover this gem.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33- A staircase that was usually lit - by a roof lantern.
0:36:33 > 0:36:38- The roof lantern let natural light - stream into the heart of the house.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46- Glansevern Hall, near Newtown, was - built in the early 19th century...
0:36:47 > 0:36:49- ..in the Greek Revival style.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55- The Revival influence is here - but in a simple and subtle style.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01- The influential Georgian period - was about to end...
0:37:02 > 0:37:06- ..and the modern design revolution - was almost complete.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08- It's a centuries-old design...
0:37:08 > 0:37:12- ..that still inspires architects - to this day.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24- The early modern house design - is considered the perfect design.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29- We continue to build houses - that are inspired by this design.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- Pennant farm in Pontfadog...
0:37:35 > 0:37:40- ..looks like an early modern house - from the late 17th century.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- It's actually recently renovated...
0:37:43 > 0:37:48- ..but harks back to the past - for its inspiration.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08- Despite the alterations made to it, - it looks completely natural.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12- Yes, which is why it's hard - to believe that it's a new house.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- It looks like a 17th century house.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19- The renovations improved the house.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24- The only feature that may not - suit the building is this porch.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- Yes. I'm struggling - to get my head around it.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32- It blends in with the building, - because it's quite Elizabethan.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- During the Renaissance, - every grand house had a porch.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- Having a porch was a status symbol.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46- However, this porch - was only built ten years ago.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52- If you stand in the garden - and block the porch from view...
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- ..the house takes on - a different feel.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00- I admire the owner's vision - because this is a real success.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- Yes. He created something new.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07- He has added another layer - to the history of this house.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10- Yes, and very much in the spirit - of the Renaissance.
0:39:10 > 0:39:16- He was inspired by historical - and classical influences.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29- This house encompasses - more than one architectural period.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34- It's inspired by Georgian luxury, - symmetry and subtlety.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- I've never walked into a bedroom - through a wardrobe before!
0:39:56 > 0:40:01- Concealing stairs behind timber - panels is typically Georgian.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- The house has many hidden doors.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07- This room is quite Georgian...
0:40:07 > 0:40:10- ..but the symmetry of the room - doesn't quite work.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15- There's something quite primitive - about the ceiling height...
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- ..unlike the room next door.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28- The ceiling level has been raised - by about a foot in this room.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32- As a result, this room - has a far grander feel to it.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38- It has more Georgian splendour - than the other room.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- This house has undergone - several renovations.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05- It was modernized - during each renovation.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10- There was a house here before - this was built in the 17th century.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15- It was renovated again - in the early Georgian period.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- It was transformed again - in the 21st century.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- Essentially, what we have here - is a modern house...
0:41:23 > 0:41:27- ..that was influenced - by the modernity of times past.
0:41:44 > 0:41:49- If you can't find an old house - such as Pennant to renovate...
0:41:49 > 0:41:52- ..you can always build a new house.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56- That's what we have here, - at Carden Hall in Cheshire.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- Carden Hall is one of a handful - of country houses...
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- ..to be built in the past 50 years.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21- It looks like a house - built in the 1820s...
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- ..but it's totally original.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- It isn't a replica - of an existing house.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32- Why are rural Georgian mansions - so attractive to us?
0:42:35 > 0:42:39- One glance tells you - that it's perfectly symmetrical.
0:42:39 > 0:42:44- If you had the money, who wouldn't - want to build a house like this?
0:42:49 > 0:42:54- A series of mansions - have been built on the site...
0:42:54 > 0:42:56- ..during the past 500 years.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03- The most recent of those - was destroyed by a fire in 1912.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08- Every architectural detail - reflects the Regency period...
0:43:09 > 0:43:12- ..the years between 1811 and 1820.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16- Every single 24,000 square foot - of Carden Hall is stunning.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38- Well!
0:43:38 > 0:43:41- This is where the design - bursts into life.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45- It's a strange - but immensely enjoyable experience.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49- I feel like the owner - of a Georgian house 200 years ago.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51- The builders have just left...
0:43:51 > 0:43:55- ..and I'm seeing my new house - for the first time.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58- This isn't a replica - of an existing mansion...
0:43:59 > 0:44:01- ..or of any historical building.
0:44:01 > 0:44:06- The architect has been inspired - by different places.
0:44:06 > 0:44:11- We've seen Ionic pillars - in several Georgian houses.
0:44:11 > 0:44:16- The open balcony on the landing - is also a familiar feature.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19- In a mansion as large as this...
0:44:19 > 0:44:23- ..they needed natural light - in the centre of the house.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26- The solution - was to fit a roof lantern...
0:44:27 > 0:44:32- ..to allow natural light to flood - into the heart of the building.
0:44:32 > 0:44:37- The architect has drawn - on the best Georgian elements...
0:44:37 > 0:44:39- ..to create a cohesive design.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43- It really does feel - like an old Georgian house.
0:45:15 > 0:45:20- The Renaissance had a big influence - on the Georgian era in Britain.
0:45:25 > 0:45:30- The architect suggests strong links - with the Renaissance here...
0:45:30 > 0:45:35- ..by using Italian marble - such as this wonderful green stone.
0:45:35 > 0:45:40- There are also commissioned works - in white Italian marble.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44- They take their place beautifully - in this house.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02- Every generation - influences the following generation.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06- That's also true - in the architectural world.
0:46:11 > 0:46:17- Some believe that nothing is new, - that we simply repackage old ideas.
0:46:28 > 0:46:34- In a few decades, when ivy and moss - covers the walls of Carden Hall...
0:46:35 > 0:46:40- ..it'll be indistinguishable - from the mansions that inspired it.
0:46:49 > 0:46:54- Some consider Georgian design - to be the pinnacle of architecture.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58- The elements that inspire - designs such as this...
0:46:58 > 0:47:02- ..include symmetry and light.
0:47:02 > 0:47:06- Those key elements - developed over centuries...
0:47:07 > 0:47:10- ..and are as attractive today - as they were then.
0:47:10 > 0:47:14- Is the modern house in which we live - so modern after all?
0:47:48 > 0:47:51S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones
0:47:51 > 0:47:51- .