Build A New Life In The Country: Old Church | History Documentary | Reel Truth History

George Clarke supervises Martin and Rebecca as they attempt to turn a dilapidated old church in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, into their dream home. The inexperienced couple employ friends to help keep the project on a tight budget and, after a shaky start, everything goes ahead on time.
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.
To be the first to watch more full length documentaries, subscribe here: / @banijayhistory
Welcome to Reel Truth History, the home of gripping and powerful documentaries. Here you can watch both full length documentaries and series that explore some of the most comprehensive pieces of world history.

[@fonhollohan2908]

As I watched this I cheered Martin on, this episode should be called " against all odds." They are a super blessed couple. To be able to have a community come alongside and help you like that is what folks dream of. When I rebuilt an huge addition onto my house just married with six kids, I needed a back fusion and the surgery failed while I was in the midst of a rebuild. Two of the people who I hired had ripped me off. I had to rely on a dear friend who did the mud work for us. And we managed to finish the build by the skin of our teeth and it cost me three times as much as Martin reno. Incredible what Martin pulled off. A complete miracle as far as I'm concerned. Not only that Martin and his wife have a gorgeous home.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

It's an old miners community, and despite the mines have long gone the tight communal bonds are still there with so many family and friends helping out. You won't see this happen in posh neighbourhoods, but what happened here is so great!

[@lesliebessesen7653]

That is what you call TRUE FRIENDS....

[@craigtalbot607]

If more people helped each other like these friends and relatives, there would be a lot more happiness and a LOT less debt!! Cheers for this AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!

[@Suzyfromtheblock]

Craig Talbot yes I agree if everyone chipped in, them you know that you have friends who in turn you can also serve in a time of need 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@janedoe805]

How incredible beautiful when friends and family come together. This wasn’t one of the more fabulous or poshest homes on this program but... certainly one of the loveliest with everyone’s heart & soul contributed. I’m very happy for them. ♥️👵🏻

[@LisaNH934]

I agree 💯%! 💕

[@overflo.agency]

Great comment mate. 100%

[@amandabell8827]

What an amazing community! No wonder they wanted to settle there. I wish them many years of happiness in their beautiful home x

[@deletedaccount7154]

ahah the community aint like that no more lol

[@eskimoglenn]

Forget the dissenters.They did a great job ,with the help of mates, a very well done.Should be proud.

[@bluebird5361]

"Salt of the Earth". People are truly amazing, what they can achieve.

[@jukes243]

Wow. Really beautiful home. Great community. Love that they kept the cross.

[@cathysolorzano6101]

The roof looks great it lets you and your wife style come out and say no one on this block has a roof like yours enjoy your family and home it's your castle.Have a great life together. Cathy. MONTEREY,TENNESSEE USA

[@carlotta4th]

Wow, doing it on that short of a time span is impressive enough, but basically sticking to his budget AND knowing enough people willing to help out significantly? Impressive all around! They've done a great job making a home out of ruin for 35k euros.

[@KatrinaKrantz]

So fun to see all of their friends coming together to help. They're lucky people.

[@politicgal408]

What great friends they have! Their very lucky people! The build is beautiful! Only thing I'd do is put a lovely hanging outdoor light where the pole is for that cross! It would be the icing on the cake!!!

[@LisaNH934]

A lot of determination and hard work...and great family & friends! ❤ Congrats! ☺

[@laurieleon9201]

Awesome. Loved everyone working together. That's how it should be.

[@ladybird97031]

Bravo! They are truly blessed with family & friends. It's a lovely home too.

[@chrishidalgo5998]

Love the cast of characters:-):-):-)

[@keirfarnum6811]

Great job! Turned out great for being done on the cheap. They should be proud.

[@F-J.]

What an incredible bunch of friends. 🥰🥰🥰

[@christinakatzenstein6412]

Faith in humanity is restored bless them and their new life together 😍🥰🥰🥰

[@markrwc6185]

"and the deadline for completion is (all together now) CHRISTMAS.

[@frenchartantiquesparis424]

They are lucky they have so many friends willing to work for free...!

[@tracy-dg3qq]

True friends

[@jaytay8637]

Indicates what nice people they are.

[@perlitacardenas8067]

Great friends and relatives! Very lucky couple to have them. Nice reno! Congratulations to all!

[@somsongcortese9470]

I’m loved and addictive to it so much of educational thanks!

[@spunkygmahappy4778]

Oh my goodness, they did a wonderful job with this church

[@Libbathegreat]

Friends help you move, real friends build you a house to move into 💪

[@rwhitehead6551]

A great deal of admiration for their resilience and willingness to take on the challenge. The expenses are high because so much is done by hand. I haven't seen so many hand saws and nails since 1950. If he or the joiners had proper power tools they could move twice as fast. Union rules?

[@korgikakorgika9345]

The proper power tools are great help in building

[@rwhitehead6551]

@@korgikakorgika9345 And are more cost effective because of reduced labor cost!

[@jamieshannon9809]

From 31:40 - fair play to you. After being that long with a bank I would expect more respect than having to go in and have a "negotiation" bearing in mind they are and have been earning plenty of interest from the money that you pay in.

[@atodaso1668]

Thanks for all the uploads.

[@telescopereplicator]

14:11 ... There is a great deal of misconception, here. Hard hats only give very limited protection. Very minimal. When a large hammer falls onto the helmet from a height of 10 feet or more, your skin may stay intact but you will suffer lifelong neck pains...... When a large beam such as this one hits you, any helmet, ANY helmet becomes merely a formality..........

[@Gloria-Stits]

Hey George, you didn't get cake and tea with the posh Cotswold couple, couldn't even be bothered to turn up ! Proper people these 👍

[@matbasterson520]

Everybody should have a friend named Crunch! ha

[@stevehale4712]

He’s brilliant, scare you half to death if you met him in a dark alley but soft as cat, lovely bloke

[@chronicfish]

You know this is filmed before 2009, when people were allowed to smoke inside a pub :P

[@PiersLortPhillips]

Simpler times.

[@dillydalie11]

very nice..

[@nancyn347]

Love the community vibe! But I think Martin is a bit of a control freak. He doesn't let Rebecca help with the build, he chooses the appliances (even though he told her she would have control over the interior), and he didn't look overly happy when she mentioned getting married. I read a comment below that said this couple are divorced and the house has been sold.

[@apocalypseyve1373]

Pentacostal! 👑Holy Spirit filled; walk that faith out... Hallelujah! 🙏 I'd love to rebuild a Church, but I'd start a full on a revival and help build a whole bunch of new lives. 🤗

[@awesomekel7116]

steel beams with no crane! effing crazy

[@malashreehome5880]

friend and care for each other defeats all red tape and the big brother

[@Vivaldi111]

Why do they always want to "get in before Christmas"?

[@carlotta4th]

Holidays, wanting to celebrate, not wanting to do construction in the dead of winter, etc.

[@sadikmeah4057]

To add to the suspense

[@Suzyfromtheblock]

It’s better than some of them get pregnant 🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣☺️🤣

[@F-J.]

Christmas must be a portal to another world of delight 🤣

[@dadejazzba402]

Nice couple, nice friends

[@ThallesValle]

32:38 Young girls giving condition for George to approach

[@tiffkungpoify]

This is how communities and families are suppose to be. Just saying societies.

[@cameobabec968]

I am hard of hearing and it would be much appreciated if you could add closed captioning.

[@LisaNH934]

You can add captions by clicking on your YT acct. - KZbin 'settings' - Hope this helps ☺

[@cameobabec968]

@@LisaNH934 That only works if the video has closed captioning added when it's posted. I always have the caption setting on.

[@LisaNH934]

@@cameobabec968 Oh..i didn't know that. 😞 You would think all/most shows would enable them! Thnx ☺

[@haweater1555]

When I first saw the thumbnail for this video, I thought they were trying to restore a building that was hit by a tornado.

[@robertcaffrey6097]

Very fortunate having all those people willing to work for free (pints) I wouldve removed the big KKK cross at the front.

[@middleagecrazy4234]

To be a conformist with matching tiles is like sleep following the next. But face it the Ram with the big horns stand out, there is power in being different. Lol

[@linarez90]

This started like an episode of Crimewatch!

[@Suzyfromtheblock]

Clive reminds me of Brian clough 🤣

[@CallieMasters5000]

I wonder how many people they get at their door on Sunday mornings turning up for church service? He should play priest to try take up a collection to pay for it all.

[@LisaNH934]

Lol! Great idea tho! 💒

[@AngelaBecker1966]

Do they not sell flat screen tvs in the UK?

[@nittygritty9418]

Fantastic job! I'm just wondering why they kept the cross on the roof.

[@MareShoop]

Right? It’s not like it’s aesthetically pleasing.

[@scouser2010ify]

Amazing to see everyone just helping out like this this is what’s great about Britain the sense of community :)

[@krisbrand354]

Crunch, we need more light in the lounge, can you pick up the building and move it 100mm to the right please mate...

[@fintan3563]

It doesn’t look like the walls are strong enough to hold the I-beams and the first floor.

[@chrisneedham5803]

Things look better seen through the bottom of a glass 😂😂😂😂🍺🍷👍

[@nancyrose8028]

I think I would have the electrical system checked out just to be sure.

[@F-J.]

That's almost like a barn raising.

[@exsgt007]

He could have gotten the beam up by making two neat stacks of bricks about six feet apart one brick at a time under the beam. Sort of a teetering effect alternating at each stack. Any lifting would be no more than the height of just one brick.

[@beverlycollins4283]

I wonder if all these people from so many years in the past building their homes know that this is now on KZbin?

[@AmericanBadger87]

Some of them do and have commented on them.

[@nikwood028]

This is my sister, you can see me in the pub. Unfortunately they are no longer together and the house has been sold.

[@jenniferwoodville2552]

Other than sweeping some puddles this is shot after shot of him standing staring at the building while other people work. And while they are crying about not having money she somehow manages to have her nails done and go out to the pub every Friday night? AND she needs to be inspired by the finishes? Honey, you need to move in...upgrades can come later.

[@joannahampton3808]

You can't include Friday pub night in your bashing, that's embedded in British culture

[@linarez90]

Looks more like a council estate than the countryside!

[@F-J.]

What did the planner say about that funky roof ?? 😅

[@murphysmom1387]

I want to move to Shropshire England, it’s my dream! My husband and I have renovated several homes and would love to save one of England’s beautiful homes. I love the history that the UK has, we have nothing in the US.

[@jamieshannon9809]

There are probably plenty available but beware if you end buying anything with Historic value or Grade II Listed status. Because the cost to buy is twice as much to buy initially. And then triple the cost of purchase for all the renovation and hoops the local authorities make you jump through.

[@theviking9671]

If you've done loads of renovations, you'll be fine, just watch out for the bureaucracy. Like Jamie said, working with local authorities, planners, going through planning permission, surveys, specific materials etc it can become a money pit very quickly. But, the dream will keep you motivated I'm sure. Go for it.

[@salzburg18]

Is this the 90's?

[@robertahubert7474]

Just goes to show what you can do with a little help from your family and friends..

[@fredrika27]

Regarding the tile caps, get some waterproof paint and paint them grey! They will stay grey for a number of years! 🤣🤣🤣 The things we homeowners do to fool the authorities!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@vardaspavarde7391]

The roof is made of 10cm straws - how long will it stay??

[@windicold4682]

That is the best looking renovated building yet, even the furniture looks great, but they don't look all that enthusiastic

[@nancyn347]

I agree, and I don't think that they look happy with eachother, either. No chemistry between them at all.

[@Helloverlord]

Interesting is almost all of the realestate made this way or presented via this channel end up for sale couple of years later - check it out.

[@jamieshannon9809]

Has this one been sold? And do you have a link for it?

[@markheld5788]

Everybody has no money want to be in by Christmas but free beer help's getting people to work for free.

[@strongforu]

I would've removed the cross and donated it to a local church.

[@kirbyyork118]

Same. We aren't talking about some historic 300 year-old church here, just from the '70's. It's NOT a church anymore, so the cross needed to go. Perhaps replace it with a small, antique piece in the entry if they like.

[@bteuben-faber8215]

Well, you are not them actually! And their helping friends are not scared of the cross too ... So, what's the problem in it for you? Love from Holland! 🌷

[@nancyrose8028]

I felt really bad for the girl! He didn't seem very interested in the conversation on marriage, and she didn't really have any say about anything. This is basically his house, basically built by his friends. At least she has a little cubby to paint in. I know this is very negative, but he just was not sensitive to her at all!

[@nikwood028]

You're very much bang on with the truth there....

[@nancyn347]

I agree 100%. He's a control freak! And there's a comment that says they are no longer together and the house was sold. I'm not surprised, really.

[@rwhitehead6551]

They did a great job and he is lucky to have friends to help. But I am always fascinated in the videos how much in the UK is still done by hand and the wasted time and cost. Rarely do I see a power saw, a nail gun, or power tools of any kind. Doing it all by hand drags the builds out, drives up the cost, and is unfair to the homeowners. When fighting weather, which always seems to me the case, speed is invaluable so long as quality is not sacrificed. George does a great job of finding interesting stories and explaining the challenges. These are addicting videos.

[@jamieshannon9809]

In my opinion there is more satisfaction in doing builds by hand. Plus houses built by brick and concrete block as opposed to timber are more substantial. Albeit that new builds are now more so built with timber framing than before - Profit before quality - a very sad indictment of life in the 21st Century.

[@lorriepriddle8604]

No money for the house ....how do you sit in the pub then?

[@Helloverlord]

Friends chipped in?

[@Aby7799]

I read comments before watching, if it's too much drama, I skip. I loved the episode of the old couple who renovated the very old farm house. I guess old couples are very positive.

[@Bay501]

sure all old people are exactly the same.

[@matthewdill6734]

It seems like they could have saved a lot of money using salvage for the materials and fixtures. But the wife was so picky I doubt she would be ok with that.

[@mindakahn9964]

It’s just me. But, they spent so much time on a custom home, plus the financial headaches, and the microwave is on the counter? Nooooo!! Bless all of the friends and family that helped.

[@benmac940]

I was more thinking all that time and money on a custom home and they have a narrow cramped kitchen in an entirely separate room. Thought most people were trying to open everything now days

[@johndavison674]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😇

[@diane9247]

Only for a TV show will your friends build you a home for free. Nice job, though!

[@free4lifeau]

why dope everyone have $5K to rebuild, no experience, little time and unable to borrow any more money.... I really enjoy to 1 in 20 where people have enough money and time is not a barrier to renovate much better.

[@PL-qc1tj]

Humptydumpty is building his house.

[@mrgrumpy5116]

I like to see everyone succeed but they were out of control and very irresponsible.

[@ginacrusco234]

So not my taste, I did what I rarely do and skipped to the end. If Martin is going to do this for a living I hope he begins to take safety measures seriously. Getting away with risky practices was lucky once but can't work in the longrun. I hope Rebecca enjoys her creativity and does not get stuck being sole breadwinner.

[@Novaheart1998]

They are going to do this for a living while not paying anyone... yeah great idea Sherlock... Lord almighty what a bunch of moochers!

[@GREENLALI]

Cities should really consider demolition of property and selling land to build.

[@maryannebrown2385]

Do these people get paid to be on this show? I wonder how much. It would have to be enough to put up with the really annoying pressure and comments of the host. I have seen him on other programs and he was so much more interesting, but on this programs he is just this annoying, negative nag. Just harping at the couples about the fact they haven’t done enough work and they aren’t going to make their deadline. It is like the whine of a really annoying mosquito.

[@theviking9671]

I know a couple who were on a higher profile programme than this, renovating an old building. They didn't get paid. However, they ran out of money before they could finish and were short of about £10k. The TV company gave them the money so they could finish, hence they could show the completed job for TV.

[@angies3057]

Why why would you want a old church as your new home??why? Well don't be surprised if your home is hunted.