A couple spent their life savings and spent months living in a caravan in order to turn a historic Haslingden pie factory into their dream home,
The duo, known only as Sam and Jimmy, appeared on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations on Wednesday evening (April 10).
On the show, architect George Clark meets people who are repurposing old and unused buildings and turning them into extraordinary homes.
They bought a former Holland’s Pies factory, in John Street, Haslingden, for £160,000.
They sold two of their properties and are using their life savings to turn the factory into their dream home.
The couple lived in a caravan throughout the build, after selling two of their properties, and kept their belongings in tents.
Pictures have now emerged of the partially renovated property which now looks unrecognisable.
The open-plan living area, including the kitchen and living room, is complete along with a roof garden and self-contained annexe.
Bedrooms, which are on the ground floor of the property, are set to be completed in the coming months.
The couple spent around £220,000 on renovations and expect this to rise to around £270,000 once the bedrooms are finished.
Sam said: “It’s exactly the way I wanted it. It’s hard to make it feel cosy when you want to keep it open-plan, which is why everything is big.
“I absolutely love it.
“At one point we never thought we’d get here. There have been times when we wanted to give up. It’s pushed me to the limit.”
Host George said the property is now a “harmonious home”.
He said: “The annexe has smart matching windows. The dark grey is continued in the render of the flat roof extension.
“It’s hard to believe this was a bustling hub of large-scale pie production.
“What was once the heart of a pie production line is a practical and stylish kitchen, generous dining area, and comfy, welcoming living space.
“The couple put everything into this, both financially and emotionally. They are renovation fighters, battling against whatever is thrown at them and never giving up.
“When it’s done I can’t think of a couple who deserves such a unique family home as much as they do.”
Pie maker Walter Holland opened the pie factory, on the Haslingden street, in the early 1900s.
The business continued production here for 30 years before moving to bigger premises.
Catch up on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations on All 4.
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