Build A New Life In The Country: Welsh Barn | History Documentary | Reel Truth History

George Clarke helps Birmingham couple Dave and Rebecca as they renovate a derelict Welsh barn while living in a caravan on the site. The pair apply for planning permission - but a cash shortage threatens to end their dream before it has begun.
Presented by architectural designer Charlie Luxton, Build A New Life follows people leaving the rat-race of the city in pursuit of new lifestyles and new homes in the countryside. The dream houses they are creating are inspiring, architecturally challenging and are all undertaken with a modest budget.
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[@starglismann6879]

The narrator talks endlessly about money but in the meantime they’re living in the lovely countryside with their family. Love their perseverance!! 🙏🏻💖🌟

[@chaimvance8608]

instablaster.

[@ptaylor4923]

The guy who delivered the slate is an angel.

[@laurenscottdavenport8378]

This is the most beautiful home I can imagine, and this lovely family deserve nothing but the best in life! Love their optimism and hard work

[@ellezan1]

I admire their determination and sacrificing spirit for wanting a simpler life for their family, out in the countryside where they can play outside rather than be bound up by technology and the unnatural and shallow life that suburban/city life offers. Well done to you guys and all of the best for your future.

[@simoneconsciousobserver3105]

I love this couples tenacity, bravery and dedication to their dreams

[@LisaNH934]

Me too! 💕 They're young & attaining their dreams

[@campeau29]

I love the guy's optimism and his wife's patience. Having done a self-financed self-build, I learned to phase in the rooms and not get stuck with time-consuming details (lime-rendered wall, for example). I would have advised living with the rough walls (or cover them with drywall) and do them later, one room at a time. The details of building a home are infinite and most can be attended later at the expense of a bit of dust.

[@jeffhreid]

Lime render would cost a lot less than drywall. Lime render is sand lime and water

[@57monoshock]

19:37 Very nice of the delivery man to help out.

[@js9430]

I love these guys! They have such tenacity and optimism. I love that they took such a big gamble on this project and it all worked out! Congratulations to Dave, Rebecca and kiddos!

[@deannakinsman6790]

George's negativity is irritating me no end!! Pitch in and give them a hand...how about that hey?!? Lovely family...❤❤❤ So happy for them❣❣❣

[@LisaNH934]

Agree 💯% ☺

[@AcornHillHomestead]

That negativity is becoming the media norm. Its all a out the drama and its getting BORING. Why cant people just cheer others along rather than look for the train wreck??

[@hmmcinerney]

Having renovated an old house on an inadequate budget, I have to say I wouldn't do it again without having at least 90% of the budget. Me and my small daughter ate in the local cafe and washed in the local swimming pool for about a year. She became ill with stress. It's a professionals duty to be realistic. He knows what he knows and they don't.

[@ravenred201]

George is a realist!! And glad he is! Someone needs to be!!..these people live in a fantasy world! Head in a cloud!

[@3monsters014]

This show pays people to be on film. So they act like the situation is worse then it is in exchange for a paycheck. Prob get 2 or 3 grand for being on the show.

[@virginiamoss7045]

I cannot wait to view the whole video without being alarmed that the roof hasn't been the number one priority! The roof is critical!

[@platinum11110]

I envy this guy's optimism. Lovely couple and lovely family, wish them the best.

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

Hes my dad 😂 we still live in the same house - 15 years later

[@panchomoldero7287]

I love this family.. they got a nice home.

[@rebeccamd7903]

My favorite one to date!! I absolutely love and appreciate his meticulous attention to reproducing historic touches. It really adds to the charm. Well done!! 🥰

[@mukhezamukheza623]

Dave should be a pastor or a motivational guru,the guy has a lot of faith and hope that is so refreshing to see ,he warms my heart every time he gives that nervous laugh and say 'we hope!,absolutely love him.

[@newagefashion5353]

The new baby is an extension of their love. His optimism is what yielded the most results. Episode is very positive. I truly wish them well.

[@mayradell3953]

It is absolutely beautiful!!!! I am so proud to se how these homeowners are so brave. Lots of power to them.

[@perlitacardenas8067]

Beautiful couple, beautiful children! Great couple, love their positive attitude! Love their home too! Congratulations!

[@pauljames9393]

He deserves £100,000 from the production company for his hard graft ! what an amazing couple.

[@susanaldridge2000]

Proud of the souls of their kind. Proud of the Welsh and English souls

[@reneecannon1250]

Love the windows in the thick walls, and the gorgeous bathtub!!!

[@geoffburrill9850]

I can completely sympathize as I have been there converting a one bed barn. In three years I spent £40k just to do the basics. It's tough it really is.

[@aineslattery3090]

One of my favourite I love that rustic clean half interior finished look you can actually see love in that house I really enjoyed this one

[@jukief]

What a wonderful couple. They have such a fabulous attitude. I’m so happy for them.

[@Aby7799]

George has evolved gradually in the future seasons, he complains less.

[@bluebird5361]

Seriously, the doom and gloom is getting nauseating. Rub it in and rub it in until we viewers want to scream! Visions are what create, and they need positivity. There are always unseen ways we can be blessed if we believe. And see, they did get into the barn and it is lovely, and they can keep upgrading while in there.

[@donnash5813]

I agree. The doom and gloom gets old quick. I fast forward through most of it. They did a great job. I've worked in home improvement for 30 years and give them a big congrats for creating a beautiful home.

[@pertpesc7058]

Her smile can melt a stone. 😻

[@bosse641]

Lovely family. All the best to them.

[@virginiamoss7045]

Working hard no longer gets you anywhere in the twenty-first century. You have to work smart, real smart, every detail, every penny. This reminds me of unemployed coal mine workers in Appalachia saying they don't want charity, they just want a job; they'll do anything that's physical labor and work extremely hard day and night non-stop forever without complaint. That's what machines do, but machines can't think (yet). Brain beats brawn.

[@momof2momof2]

Very happy for them, I love this building. The extra land is really what saved them. Well done !!! erry Christmas ! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@annasteele9464]

Beautiful house. Thank you for sharing this. Regards from Iceland

[@melancholymonkey1880]

Dave and Rebecca are an inspiration. It's easy to understand why they wanted to escape from B'ham.

[@bg147]

Just starting. That place is rock solid. Edit: The owner would not be deterred. No quit in him. That is a beautiful place.

[@bobeden5027]

Best one so far!

[@williamkimmel6487]

These earlier programs did concentrate heavily on the lack of finance. Thankfully, the later programs concentrated more on the build. Beautiful home. Kim

[@F-J.]

Wow. Shocking indeed. I'm impressed. Well done.

[@vandalmeida.30.09]

So, after the storm cames de bonanza... the house looks full of ❤!👏👏👏👏💗🌸💗🌸💗💚🐕🐶

[@jmontgomery1178]

"This cost much more than they expected." Every. single. build. You would think people would get wise to this sometime.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Exactly. Multiply time and cost by three.

[@johnjohnon8767]

It's their money,time ect.

[@anthonychistoff9190]

@@elizabethmcglothlin5406 I normally moltiply by 2 and it is pretty accurate then.

[@NYCHeartandSoul]

I think this is part of the conceit of the show. (Dream, cost overrun, lack of building knowledge, somehow they pull it off.) The money they spent was miraculously low all things considered. I have the impression the directors create drama wherever possible. It’s very conceivable the couple had already guessed the plot of land could be sold. And his skills were impressive as was the relatively solid state of the structure. The TV production company creates a narrative of drama drama drama. Oh wait, a plot can be sold. Of course they didn’t have planning but still. I love the couple’s positive attitude. The house is really quite beautiful.

[@michellezevenaar]

Definitely something that many people underestimate. A close friend of mine just did an extention and had money left over because she didn't need most of the contingency fund. She had a realistic budget and priced most things before starting. It also helps she had great builders that helped her save money by moving doors to cheaper places and so on....

[@Skupik1]

Struggling to finish a house. Struggling to sell the plot. Struggling with money and loan. Let’s have another baby!

[@Onlinesully]

Paweł Skupiński That's how the program works

[@agnieszka4475]

Typical English people

[@johnridderhof4505]

I agree, I don't understand lol.

[@janridout2715]

I’ll never understand why families take on these huge, expensive projects without doing their sums first.

[@hmmcinerney]

Jan Ridout And ask your surveyor for the worst case scenario, because that's what you'll usually find in these old buildings. And factor in about 25% in extras

[@rozcole3650]

You fall in love with a project !! Hard going but at least we try !!

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

Their just doesn't seem that old reliable family backup that was in place before The Industrial Revolution. Fathers and grandfathers aren't in place to give their son's advice.

[@carolinebesinger8611]

Love this ! Wish for an up date.

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

We might do one....

[@beverlycollins4283]

Best wishes to this lovely family. I hope they let you revisit the house when they are finished. 🦜🦚🦜

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

@Laurent Courtois Hi I'm the baby that was born, 15 years later, the barn is finished and we still live in it :)

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

Its been 15 years .... mabye we will make another one (im the baby who was born)

[@donnash5813]

@@catrinpalfrey4523 So nice of you to post an update. Your dad did a great job and your mom is such a lovely person. Happy you are all doing well.

[@s.fuhrmann]

Glad it turned out well. Dreams are lovely but to achieve those dreams one also has to be pragmatic.

[@pietvast4283]

Great. What a nice place. All the best.

[@LisaNH934]

2018/2019 They still own it & rent it out on Vrbo & HomeAway...lovely interior pics online! ❤ Love this couple..that little newborn would be 14 y.o. now 😀

[@christinejackson3922]

L Farrell thanks for the update

[@cathyblackhall3448]

Nice to hear one of these ending positively 😊

[@deannascott1506]

Is there a link to the family now???

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

I'm 15 now, im the newborn haha :)

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

@@deannascott1506 Hi I'm the newborn baby :)

[@rozcole3650]

If only we got an update on how these guys are going !!

[@robhof7545]

Than you have to wait. This one is uploaded, a week ago.

[@josephine5761]

well it was filmed in 2005 so it surely would be lived in by now

[@futuregirl8803]

Their divorced and the kids are in local authority care!! 😁 😁 😁 😁

[@liliessijeuni7774]

Siobhan Parker, Wow ... your hopes are so bad....

[@futuregirl8803]

@@liliessijeuni7774 😁😁😁😁😁💖

[@rockypluto2683]

This guy doesn't know how to budget...his wife should..but great idea..amazing work done!

[@rachelone1308]

I was hitting my nails thinking can they finish, but wow so beautiful.

[@MareShoop]

Why would you hit your nails ?

[@rachelone1308]

@@MareShoop biting …. Can’t even spell when I watched this!!

[@carenzalarue8447]

Programs like this, they always end up getting pregnant and wanting to be in before Christmas.

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

LOL. I kinda picked up on that too.

[@shanefreeney1043]

Cold caravans make you go to bed early 😂

[@jaybee1248]

Maybe she thought he needed a fire lit under him to get through😂

[@SS-jb8wj]

It always amazes me that they can't wait a little longer for the home to be finished before becoming pregnant again.

[@bigbiemacaw]

Carenza LaRue and been short of cash...it intersects me how they do it...I’m or I was planning to go to Bulgaria tomorrow and buy something cheap..it’s our only hope of room at home for my horses...I rent in Ireland and couldn’t ever afford to rent a house with the land I’d need..plus it would be lost money....after seeing houses with land for 10 grand I said a little prayer for ten to fall out of a tree, after I told the other half about the new dream he said we would need 15 grand ...1 hour later he won 14 and a half grand on paddy power...so we’re going to have a look....and treat myself to a macaw......I’m nervous but exited.. anyone from Bulgaria have any advice...we’ve never been to Bulgaria so have no clue where we like so the plans to get a flight to Sofia and get a train across to the coast of the Black Sea , that way we see the country but something within an hour from the sea we’re guessing.....so we’d love some advice..

[@DeHirvilammi]

AWSOME JOB

[@pawelsawicki7003]

Very interesting

[@dillydalie11]

very nice... !!!

[@pri1077]

lovely home..lovely family ... congrat..

[@kennethpensyl7791]

Amazing

[@jillianterpend8821]

looks very nice. One would have thought that doing the documentary on rebuilding the old barn they would have gotten some money from them or do they keep the money for themselves when they sell the series?

[@3monsters014]

They did a couple thousand dollars to act like things are significantly worse then they are.

[@Prieze868]

Hats off to Dave that's a wonderful building and the original lime plaster and all that it's like you got to sit and look at it for 30 or 40 or 50 years I'm in the even if it's 2 month delayed and you in the caravan it's worth it long run and your children will have a handmade original dwelling that's historically correct and it we in asset and more or less family seat

[@mistyblue6575]

where there's a will there's a way, well done

[@rahulllpaliwall]

the first word anchor spoke after he was born "isnt it"😂

[@eastcoastartist]

Such a sweet family.

[@spunkygmahappy4778]

This was a very scary, but lovely restoration

[@noneone.............]

Awesome ! 🇬🇧❤️

[@ebybeehoney]

The commercials wouldn't be nearly so annoying if they happened on the natural program breaks instead of the middle of a sentence.

[@HollywoodCreeper]

These people are the best.

[@cleot151]

I suspect the "deadlines" are suggested by George to add to his hysteria. You can build a house and move in when it's done. Keep calm and work on.

[@F-J.]

They hit one jackpot after another.. lucky buggers 🤣👏👏👏🤣

[@GREENLALI]

I never understood why people quit their job and think they can do all the construction themselves.

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

They didn't quit their jobs 😂

[@danatkins8240]

I don’t understand why people think they can’t. Remarkable things tend to be done by remarkable people.

[@deana8202]

It's beautiful. Look how thick the walls are.... amazing.

[@Brian1Graves]

Planning departments the world over are a pain in the posterior. The lone exception was in Langford BC where the Mayor gave the planner authority to approve things on the spot.

[@louisepozdzik7527]

The interviewer seems intent on projecting his fears upon this optimistic couple. Guess no one ever told him about the power of positive thinking and visualizing!

[@brandiealeman9377]

Congrats Dave and Rebecca!

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

This is the baby that was born- 15 years later- thanks!

[@robbarker450]

My Momma was Welsh I have to make it there one day she passed away this year so I gotta go n put some of her ashes and plants a tree there in honor of her 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🇵🇷👊🏽💯

[@sadikmeah4057]

The only pessimistic person was the Tv presenter. Hasn't anyone told him that by the end of every episode it all works out

[@charliefarlie2884]

yeah, but then he wouldn't have a programme

[@RenateMtV]

They had no budget, no plan at all, hardly any money came in, he did almost everything himself. Off course George was pessimistic, every normal person would be!!!

[@miarrem]

Once again, the planning dept. takes ages to make a decision. ...

[@teenapearce1699]

love the plans of the building. To bad this can not be in c c for hard hearing

[@Mpayne1472]

I think this was before they were invented

[@marcobagut]

The presenter is such a cool nice guy!

[@gentlegiants1974]

Everybody doing these projects seems to want a taj mahal with fine finishes and every modern convenience. I would fix the roof, replace windows and doors, fix up a little corner with a woodstove to live in and then begin the remaining 90% as money allows.

[@bibit3856]

I wish them so much happiness

[@eastcoastartist]

Make a KZbin channel to show your progress and get Patreons to sponsor you.

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

Its 15 years later not sure we can show the progress .... but we could show the finished product

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

@Carlos Estevam that would be cool!

[@PaulaJoW]

Geez, such a negative narration. Glad the newer shows have a more positive attitude towards these builds. Super cute property. Love the red doors!

[@susangarland6869]

That's his job. His role is to provide the pragmatic, realistic perspective because warm fuzzies don't pay the bills. There's enough pie in the sky, rainbows and unicorns, "super cute" from the loons chasing the dream.

[@LisaNH934]

@@susangarland6869 Those "loons chasing the dream" ....achieved their dreams 💕🌈🍰❄💙🎶🐝🍰🌈⭐⛅🌈

[@vera_nika2]

Not negative pbjective

[@Mpayne1472]

The voice of reason

[@arthurminck5464]

Unbelieveble, what a lovely couple, ehh, I mean the wife, isn't she lovely, her smile...incredible that they finished 🤔😉

[@susanrothenberger6686]

I was worried about them. Releaved they made it.

[@wales123100]

Well done to the family got to go for it sometimes in life I wonder if they still live there

[@missrose1654]

What a cliffhanger!! Loved every minute of it!

[@shellywelsh2316]

Dang, George was a real Debbie Downer on this one.

[@Mpayne1472]

Of course. The guy was painfully slow

[@naui_diver9290]

Hes using a jigsaw to cut planking? Hes got heart....

[@MrPrentissDJones]

Nice home, only thing I would do differently. Is make all of the doors except one floor to ceiling windows....So when Guest came to the front of the house they knew exactly which door to walk to.

[@ahulaga8466]

I don't understand why they choose those doors!! Could of had so much more natural light and a much classier finish but in the end they opt to make it look like a garage 😔

[@marciadiassilva9590]

Fantastic!! Congratulations from Brazil.

[@MsCaterific]

SMH. Facepalm 🤦‍♀️ This is so painful to watch. It's like watching a train wreck happening in slow motion. On a more positive note, I love the cottage look, their style and their bravery. I wish them all the best.

[@maunster3414]

Ca Bo, this would've been a train wreck if not involved with a series.

[@mlb7611]

Hi all => what's the mysterious music at 27"20 pls??

[@giuseppenero110]

In my part of the world, without an income to afford monthly payments, a mortgage is impossible.

[@AB-ol5uz]

they had collateral - the extra plot, and the fact that the work they had already done on the property increased it's value. so, the bank would not lose its investment.

[@nickturner2813]

giuseppe nero. You dope, she was working when they got the first mortgage, he may have still been working also so they obviously could afford the repayments. After a mortgage is issued it doesn't get called in because the mortgagors employment circumstances may have changed, at that stage all the lender needs are repayments.

[@user-wu9sk7fs7v]

@@nickturner2813 she worked part time he didnt work for at least a year

[@billypoe3703]

This is why I wish I was a millionaire. I would gift 200,000 pounds so they could finish their dream. Alas, I am poor. But I can pray for them.

[@F-J.]

You might change your mind if you actually had it 😁

[@jameswatkins2596]

Get a grip

[@michellezevenaar]

I wouldn't give away the money to strangers to finish thier dreams but I would definitely renovate a bunch of neglected buildings and rent them out to people that have social professions for a reasonable price. Teachers, nurses, social workers..... People that didn't choose their profession to make money but to help people.

[@cjohnson4342]

I thought I would die when they went back to the bank for a loan the third time and then when she said she was going to drop another baby I almost had to turn it off.

[@catrinpalfrey4523]

I wouldn't have been alive 😂

[@fredjones7307]

That is probably the worst concrete mix I have ever seen, they would have taken it back if they had turned up at any build of mine with it..

[@bg147]

They got an amazing deal on the property, but they were lucky. The original owner didn't know the plot was worth money and Dave was clueless about it as well.

[@fonhollohan2908]

just goes to show what hard work and grit will get you if you have a bit of courage tenacity and a bit of enduring faith in the midst of hardships and trails and then boom. You got a really beautiful home. The host negativity drove me up the wall. I can't imagine having to listen to him for too long, without wanting to go and jump off a bridge somewhere. jeez..nerve racking to say the least. The bottom line is sometimes in life no matter how bad things look you just have to simply take a risk.

[@cindypoole6792]

12,000 pounds to rebuild this "home", unrealistic. Some people complain about George being a downer, but what about the people who have stars-in-their-eyes w/out being rational and realistic. George is just pointing out the facts. He's always impressed how well the couple does and how beautiful the house is, yet it comes at a very high price. George just points out the facts and asks questions and he knows what's involved in building. Apparently, people don't understand how mortgages work, the longer you have one the more interest you're paying, so doing a build on your own is great, but isn't the best thing if you want to save money in the long run. It's amazing, 2022 housing market prices are climbing at a high rate.

[@strongforu]

There seems to be a consistent theme whereby these husbands with little to no construction experience want to do all the work themselves, they make their families suffer in a tiny caravan, then they get their wives pregnant again all while running out of money during the process. Ouch!

[@logan-kf6nl]

the savings is huge, i build homes for 45.000 which then goes for 150000.but a home for 45000 in WALES might only be worth 100. if that.

[@tilofranzen667]

At the end of the day, it all worked out though! This guy has rebuilt a whole house for his family! And surely both of them wanted it to be done this way. And another child is not really a bad thing, is it?

[@melissagannon5711]

@@tilofranzen667 they probably think another baby was a great thing. Too many people seem to think they should have put their lives on hold till things were perfect. Congrats and best wishes to this fine family.

[@suzannepatterson307]

He really is a Debby Downer in this episode

[@ashleyopperman3177]

I would have gotten it water tight, then put the caravan inside for the winter, and work on paying down loans until spring.

[@F-J.]

I would be too scared to walk along a long corridor at night and have to see downstairs... horror movie in the making 🤣😱

[@patriciakelly69]

That pond near to them would worry me. Those children are very young. Need to fence it off. Beautiful home. Well done. X