Cave dwellers' stories to be told in television show

The story of Staffordshire's last cave dwellers will be told when Kinver Edge's famous rock houses feature in a new BBC series.

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust follows conservation teams working to protect some of the trust's most unusual sites and artefacts.

Episode five, set to be broadcast on Friday, will showcase the lives of ordinary working people and the efforts being made to preserve their stories.

At Kinver Edge in south Staffordshire, cameras follow the restoration of Martindales, the final rock house to be refurbished by the National Trust.

Carved into the sandstone hillside, the homes sheltered generations of local families, before the last residents left in the 1960s.

The programme shows the latest stage of restoration work, including the installation of a period kitchen range donated by a member of the public.

The range once formed the heart of the home of local postman Harry Martindale, but fitting it presents a challenge in the show because the floors and walls are carved directly from the rock face.

Work to protect the rare heathland habitat surrounding the houses and the wildlife that depends on it is also highlighted in the episode.

Claire Hale, Visitor Experience Manager at Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses, said the team was "thrilled" the site was to be featured in the series.

The programme visits Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, where experts restore one of the last working spinning mules in Britain and conserve a rare apprentice contract belonging to a 13-year-old mill worker from the 18th Century.

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust has been produced by Blast Films in partnership with The Open University and was commissioned by BBC Arts.

Episode five airs on BBC Two on Friday and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

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