This House Podcast

Jochen Runde and Fiona Kinghorn kindly invited Liz to take a look around their beautiful Bauhaus designed home and discuss what it is like living in this Nicholas Johnston Architect designed one level house. They discuss Bauhaus design, garden design, art, it's origins and past, as well as the interesting added feature of its grave yard!  

Rob Short is an all round excellent bloke and publican, as current proprietor of The Queens Head in Newton Cambridge, run previously by his grandparents then parents, he and his family live and work in a building that has had 18 landlords since 1729. As Rob says "everything here has a story" and this epiosde has stories in spades! Rob reveals what life is like growing up in and running a unique pub with its fascinating customers, history and decor. Everywhere you look there is a story but the best thing about it is its beer from the barrel and it's famous 'brown soup and sandwiches'. One of only five pubs to make it into every addition of CAMRA since it was published 50 years ago, Liz got to sample its delights in front of a roaring fire. 

Nick Rapley has lovingly restored Foxton House and its outbuildings over the last 15 years. A beautiful Georgian house hidden in the heart of this Cambridgeshire village it offers a glimpse into the Regency period which is still greatly valued and appreciated today, where the layout of the original house has hardly changed suggesting that the way Georgian living spaces were arranged still suit's todays society and it's testimony to the craftsmanship used that so much has survived. It has restrained charm and elegance and an interior as gorgeous as its exterior. Nick kindly invited Liz Barker to take a look and talk about its history, past astemed residents and how they contributed to local life and how the house is an important part of it's surrounding area. Enjoy this episode as Foxton House celebrates it's Bicentenary Birthday!! 

Fresh from Glastonbury Festival, lovely jewellery designer and maker from Lawson's Goldsmiths Henley, Laura Hewitt talks to Liz Barker about life on a houseboat. How it works, the upsides, the downsides and practicalities. Laura has lived on a houseboat around London for many years - first as an apprentice and now as a mum to two young gorgeous children. Laura shares her exciting journeys, experiences & stories, and gives advice and practical information. For anyone intrigued about this alternative way of living, the This House Podcast takes to the water and ditches the traditional brix and mortar approach to accommodation in this episode. Number five of series two is an adventure.  

The Leper Chapel dates from around 1125 and is the second oldest building in Cambridge. Now run by the charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future it is open to the public. In Series 2 Episode 4 of the This House Podcast - Liz Barker meets volunteer and Manager of the Cambridge Colleges Conservation Consortium Flavio Marzo to discuss its rich history from hospital to the famous Stourbridge Fair and place of worship. Flavio talks about his fascinating work as an expert on book binding and restoration as well as another historically important building in Cambridge he wishes to restore next. Don't miss Flavio's infectious interview bringing this building to life.  

Lucy Copeland runs Howbury farm flowers from Howbury Hall’s Victorian garden in Bedfordshire. She and Cissy Bullock from Wildstems and the sustainable school of floristry talk to Liz Barker about their work and passion for British flowers. 

Lucy Copeland runs Howbury farm flowers from Howbury Hall’s Victorian garden in Bedfordshire. She and Cissy Bullock of Wildstems and the sustainable school of floristry talk to Liz Barker about their work and passion for British flowers. 

George Evennett of George Evennett Limited is an architect who has transformed his own home a former post office in a village in Cambridgeshire using the most eco friendly materials - come with Liz Barker as George takes us around his house and shares his ideas and techniques for the design.  

Historian, teacher and expert guide Thomas R Wheeley MA gives Liz Barker an extensive tour of Hinchingbrooke House in Huntington to kick off series two of the This House podcast. Come with them through the corridors and hear stories about one of the most historically interesting schools in Britain. From residents The Cromwells and Montagus and famous events, the Mediaeval nunnery and ghost stories to the present day, now as a place thousands of children learn. Tom brings it all to life in this exciting and informative episode. 

In the last episode of series one, Holly O'Brien the digital and events content producer for The David Parr House Charity discusses this hidden gem with Liz. The David Parr House epitomises the exact premise of the This House Podcast - behind an innocuous looking terrace facade in Gwydir St Cambridge there lay a beautifully designed homage to the Arts & Crafts period. Created by David Parr over 40 years it stayed in his family as a normal home until one day being discovered, and now we the public can visit and see the intricate skill deployed by a craftsman who worked for William Morris for ourselves. An important part of Cambridge's history and social history, showing a way of life over a hundred years it is also a love letter to the art and design techniques once used to decorate grand houses, churches and palaces. This homes is like no other. An audio tour with volunteer Nicky Moreland is available for members that subscribe or visit the house yourself to truly see what episode 10 tries to convey. The David Parr House Charity organises many workshops and events, please follow on social media for more information.