A LONG-HELD dream of a Leeds architect to restore an historic monument in Hellifield is nearing completion.

And soon viewers of Channel 4's Grand Designs programme will be able to see the whole project from start to finish when it is aired in the spring.

Just a few internal jobs are now required at Hellifield Peel, which will see the 13th century mansion house restored to its former glory - with a few modern day additions.

Francis and Karen Shaw bought the ruinous building in 2003. It had been earmarked for demolition some 55 years ago.

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The estate where the Peel is housed is believed to have been held by the de Knoll family until the second half of the 14th century.

It passed by marriage to Adam Hammerton, whose grandson, Lawrence, obtained a licence from Henry VI in 1440 to crenellate the tower (create battlements).

The Peel tower is one of the oldest in the north and was built primarily as a defence against the Scottish invaders.

More recently it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Works to accommodate Italian and German prisoners of war during the Second World War and after they left the building deteriorated.

Just over half a century ago it looked as though it was going to crumble completely, but Mr Shaw came along just in time.

Mr Shaw, who is a director for Brewster Bye Architects, in Leeds, bought the building for £100,000. Had he not restored it, it would have collapsed within ten years.

His original estimate of £550,000 to restore it has gone slightly over budget.

"By more than £100,000," he revealed, adding that he could not give precise figures until everything was completed.

"It is virtually finished apart from the main kitchen - where a second-hand Aga waits to be rebuilt - and work to some of the bathrooms. We are really waiting for the walls to dry out completely, which will take quite a long time," he added.

The task would have been too daunting for those with a fainter heart than the Shaws, whose new home was a stone shell three years ago with mature trees growing out of its centre and no roof.

Today it stands majestically in full view of passers-by on an adjacent footpath but it's only inside that you can appreciate the beauty of the renovation project with specially hewn stone, limestone and marble floors and mullion windows, several of them original. In the 17th and 18th centuries there were major structural changes to the property. The east wall has a 17th century mullion and transom window, while the windows on the north wall are Georgian.

Many of the medieval features remained - ready for someone to come along and preserve one of Craven's most important pieces of history after Skipton Castle.

However, while much has been spent on reconstructing the home, there are many contemporary touches, such as the bathrooms, where the Shaws' imagination has been allowed to leap forward several hundred years.

One modern-day inclusion has been the ground floor heating system, which is a geo-thermal complex using solar panels which draws heat out of the ground.

The Shaws, who have two young daughters, Harriet and Morgen, lived in rented accommodation in Gargrave until they were able to move into the top floor of the Peel. Recently they have been able to move to the lower floors and now have free rein throughout.

"The children are a bit concerned about its size as they tend to lose us, but other than that they love it," said Mrs Shaw, who has helped with the input of the interior design.

Now it is virtually complete, Mr Shaw can relax. "It has been a fantastic experience working with so many experienced and knowledgeable people. We are broke but happy," he said.

"We have had tremendous support from locals in the area and have made lots of friends since we have been here."

And don't expect to see the Peel on the market - for some time at least. "We intend to be here for a long time. They will probably have to take me out in a box," Mr Shaw added.

Grand Designs producer Livia Russell has been at the home on dozens of occasions filming the renovation project and it is thought an hour-and-a-half programme will be dedicated to it. No dates have yet been released but it is expected to be shown this spring.

Pictures by Stephen Garnett.