Shropshire couple's struggle to build dream home for £100,000
A couple on the brink of retirement took on the challenge of a lifetime to build their dream home in the south Shropshire countryside – all for just £100,000.
Faced with a crumbling house on the farm where they had lived for 20 years, Ruth and Tony Lawrence, of All Stretton, put their life savings on the line to knock it down and start again.
And they managed to create a dream home, albeit for a slightly over budget £120,000.
Their struggle was featured on The House That £100k Built on BBC 2 last night.
Architectural journalist and critic Kieran Long and award-winning architect Piers Taylor followed the couple to help them create their dream home.
Despite having no experience or expertise in house building, the pair handled every stage of the build themselves from laying the foundations to putting up the timber frame.
"I am not a builder and I'm not an architect, I am someone who wants a nice house," said Ruth.
Their budget quickly spiralled out of control and an entire wing of the house had to be abandoned to keep their project afloat. But they ended up with a luxury house on a budget.
Ruth said: "We've put our hearts and souls into that. We did it and we are happy."
