In this landmark living history series, a late 1800s Victorian arts and crafts commune in the Welsh hills has been painstakingly brought back to life as a group of 21st-century crafters move in to experience the highs and lows of living and working together as a creative commune. Over their month-long stay they are set to renovate four of the key rooms in the house. In the first episode Anita Rani is joined by internationally renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and arts and crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers, as the six crafters are faced with the challenge of breathing life back into the Victorian parlour. Using original Victorian tools and techniques, they create arts and crafts objects including a Sussex chair, CR Ashbee bowl and William Morris-inspired wallpaper - all from scratch and all in a week. All the while, they are also eating, working and living within the philosophies first outlined by the likes of John Ruskin and William Morris. Will their 1890s communal life help them to better understand the depth and scale of the Arts and Crafts movement, both as a power for artistic and social change? Will the arts and crafts life make them better crafters and reconnect them creatively to what they love?
Anita Rani is joined by internationally renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and Arts & Crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers as the six 21st-century crafters are faced with a new challenge as they restore their home for the month, room by room. This week the crafters are returning to nature as they not only restore the master bedroom to all its Arts & Crafts glory - but also take part in some fresh water swimming and an authentic Victorian picnic. Using original tools and techniques they are set to craft from scratch an Arts & Crafts double bed and bed spread, a bed side clock and plaster wall decoration and all in just a week - all the while eating, working and living within the philosophies first outlined by the likes of John Ruskin and William Morris. Will their 1890s communal life help them to better understand the depth and scale of the Arts & Crafts movement both as a power for artistic and social change? But a week into the experience and the highs and lows of living and working together as a creative commune are beginning to take its toll and the some of the crafters are beginning to crack as creative tensions start to show.
Anita Rani is joined by internationally renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and arts and crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers as the six 21st-century crafters are faced with a new challenge as they restore their home for the month, room by room. This week the crafters tackle the massive dining room in their creative communal home. Leaving behind their 21st-century tools and techniques they are set to craft from scratch a set of decorative Tondino plates with a particularly tricky glaze, a complete set of curtains and a pair of ornamental fire dogs to sit in the hearth. All big crafting projects with just a week to make each one. However, the arts and crafts communal working philosophies of John Ruskin and William Morris are beginning to have an effect on their 21st-century ideals and they are pairing up to work together - some more successfully than others - as they begin to better understand the depth and scale of the arts and crafts movement both as a power for artistic and social change. But it isn't all work as the crafters also find time to stage their own very unique performance of a much-loved nursery rhyme and take part in some very Victorian exercise. Anita Rani is joined by internationally renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and arts and crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers who pick their favourite object from the finished room.
In the final episode, Anita Rani, potter Keith Brymer Jones, and arts and crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers set the 21st-century crafters their toughest set of challenges so far. Concentrating on the communal areas of the house they are have to craft from scratch a heavy metal weather vane, a decorative mirror, write, publish and print their own magazine and create a decorative pergola for the front of the house. All within a week. Working together as a group they will see if the arts and crafts philosophies of John Ruskin and William Morris have sunk in, and if living the 1890's communal has helped them to better understand the depth and scale of the arts and crafts movement both as a power for artistic and social change. But will they get it all done in time to celebrate with a ball and fireworks display at the end of their month in the house and will they have learnt anything about what it means to be a creative crafter from their time as a Victorian?
