The sixth and final episode of the second series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this final programme John heads out across the Northeast and North Yorkshire to find buildings and features that are a surprise from a church in North Yorkshire that features stained-glass produced by William Morris, one of the founders of the British Arts and Crafts movement, to a Northumberland farm that...

The sixth and final episode of the second series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this final programme John heads out across the Northeast and North Yorkshire to find buildings and features that are a surprise from a church in North Yorkshire that features stained-glass produced by William Morris, one of the founders of the British Arts and Crafts movement, to a Northumberland farm that is in fact a complete Medieval manor house. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Presenter John Grundy takes an evening walk through the suburbs of Hartlepool in the Tees Valley. As he walks past a home the owner’s wave back as he looks in on them in their living room. As he continues his ‘prowl through suburbia’ he explains that on most nights when he does this, he is unsurprised by what he finds. Arriving at Wilton Grange on the corner of Wooler Road and Grange Road described by John as a turn of the century house in the Arts and Crafts style, he knocks on the door and is greeted by the owner Mrs Bruce. Sitting in the vast reception room with its wooden panelling, plastered barrel-vaulted ceiling with stained glass features John states that he would take bets that this is the only property in miles with this kind of interior. Over views of the room John provides details on its construction being built by and for the Hartlepool’s master builder Joseph Howe. Standing on a balcony that overlooks the room , John explains that for him the greatest pleasure in looking at buildings like Wilton Grange is that it throws up a surprise and catches him out. As a car drives through a ford in the Northumberland village of Chillingham near Alnwick, John stands beside a tree explaining the village has three surprises. The first is that the architect who designed this estate village for the Earl of Tankerville in the 1830s was Edward Blore who before taking up this contract had recently finished re-building part of Buckingham Palace. Coming to stand in the churchyard of the Norman parish church of St Peter John goes into details about the many puzzles to be found in the building as it has been built and re-built many times over the centuries. He points out the villages second surprise in the additional brickwork done on the church as part of a restoration project carried out by Sir Jeffry Wyatville in 1828, the same year he was working to remodel Windsor Castle for King George IV. Heading into the church itself passing through its’s Norman door he talks briefly about this humble and simple country church before becoming overcome by the villages third surprise, the tomb of Sir Ralph Grey and his wife Elizabeth dating from c.1443. After pointing out its many fine details John explains that it is one of the ‘great tombs of England’ and one of the great pieces of Medieval sculpture tucked away inside a tiny village church. As John wonders through the frosty graveyard of St John’s Church at Dalton near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, he explains that sometimes buildings don’t offer many clues as to why they will be a surprise. Heading inside he looks around its interior designed by the great Victorian architect William Butterfield using colourful and contrasting materials known as structural polychrome. However, for John the greatest part of the church is its stained-glass windows designed and produced by three of the greatest stained glass artists including William Morris. After going into details about why he likes the stained glass he states that it is surprising that a tiny church in North Yorkshire features two of the greatest names in English art. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Standing on the corner of Grainger and Nelson Street in Newcastle John explains that one of his pet hates are buildings that turn out to be a disappointment. Looking along Nelson Street he is critical of developers for demolishing fine buildings such as Newcastle’s Music Hall leaving behind only a façade and considering this a good thing. Because of this he gives this weeks ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ to anyone or anything that thinks interest is only skin deep. An animation of the ‘great boot’ coming down on Nelson Street. As John wonders through both Grainger Market and Central Arcade, he talks about how exciting it is to walk through façade to find yourself somewhere special with sometimes breathtakingly beautiful. He next enters the South Tower of the Co-operative Building on Newgate Street and climbs the stairs which he admires with its cast metal figures on the handrail. As he approaches Milburn House on Dean Street, he states that he is an optimist and a dreamer hoping for something interesting ‘behind the door’. A montage of the spacious atria and halls with its fairy-tale interior tiled in ochre yellow and deep green Art Nouveau style ends. John sits on a bench and explains how exciting it is to think that people can walk past this building without knowing about the beauty inside. Following another montage of the building’s features John comes to stand on an upper landing looking down impressed with this prestigious buildings ability to mix the modern with what has survived of the old. Riders on horseback taking part in a local hunt across the Northumberland landscape changes to John taking a walk through the part of the county he was responsible for when working as a Historic Building Officer during the 1980s. He talks about the beauty of the wide-open landscape and the glorious emptiness that is still full of mysteries and surprises. In the distance he points out The Poind and his Man near the village of Bolam explaining that it is a Bronze Age burial mound. He walks across what is known as the Devils Causeway explaining that it is in fact a Roman road heading north from Corbridge. Standing on the site of an Iron-Age hillfort he points out its defences before stating that while Northumberland looks obvious, even with its emptiness if conceals layer-upon-layer of history from the Prehistoric times. Walking along a track leading to East Shaftoe Farm he explains how it was a replacement for a Medieval village now gone. Coming to stand beside a barn John points out a 13th century grave cover that has been built into the wall. After talking about its features, he walks over to a planter beside the farmhouse which is in-fact a 12th century Norman font. Coming to stand in front of the farmhouse itself John points out its many differing architectural styles making it hard to date, all very strange. Opening a door John enters what turns out to be a stone vaulted basement for a 14th century tower. Pointing out the doors that would have led to a spiral staircase and the Great Hall John calls the building marvellous and still in use 700 years after it was first built. Sitting at the table John explains why he likes the building that at its heart is a complete Medieval manor house. The perfect example for John of that most enjoyable buildings delight, the pleasure of surprise. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over the closing credits a montage of some of the locations featured in this programme ending on John still sitting at the table, the camera pulling back and the door to the room slamming shut. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera Dave Leeder Sound Paul Graham Lighting Gordon Porteous, John Haynes Production Assistants Margaret McKie Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music and Dubbing John Cook Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer & Director Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. © Tyne Tees Television MMI