Couple buys 300-year-old abandoned mansion, uncovers hidden treasures

Two years ago, a couple made the extraordinary decision to sell almost everything they owned and buy a 300-year-old abandoned English country mansion in Staffordshire.What followed was a painstaking restoration filled with hidden treasures, collapsing ceilings, mushrooms growing from walls, forgotten rooms, Victorian artefacts and even a visit from police after the owners discovered a stash of century-old gunpowder.Duncombe House had been neglected for years when the couple took possession of the property. The mansion had suffered from a major flood, while damp and decay had left parts of the building in serious disrepair.The new owners, who have documented their painstaking restoration journey on their YouTube channel, Duncombe House Diaries, sharing their discoveries, challenges and progress with viewers, quickly discovered that the estate was much larger than the main house.