'They look like proper houses': National Trust volunteers share the marvels behind West Midlands treasure

Two Kinver locals who have been National Trust volunteers for nearly three years will be appearing in BBC Arts TV programme this upcoming Friday.

Both Kath Tunnicliffe and Val Taylor, along with their pet dog, Molly, will be appearing on the BBC programme ‘Hidden Treasures of the National Trust’ on BBC Two at 9pm.

The series follows the stories behind some of the country’s most stunning National Trust sites.

• Read more: I love this West Midlands hidden treasure that's about to feature on a BBC series

The pair are excited to showcase all that is special about Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses.

The couple live about a mile away from the Rock Houses, and have lived in the area for many years.

Fresh from a recent visit at the Rock Houses on Tuesday morning, Val was keen to share the significance of this particular West Midlands National Trust site.

Val who along with her wife Kath, expressed that there’s a lot of pride being associated with the area.

Val said: “What comes across in the programme is how much people love being there, and have a pride in the place.

“My part is talking about the houses themselves. It’s also about a fireplace that’s been donated.

“Generally, it’s about they way people once lived. There were 11 houses there at one point, so it was a community of over forty people living there.”

The Kinver Edge was given to the National Trust in 1917 in memory of Thomas Grosvenor Lee.

It one of the National Trust’s first acquisitions but it is not typical of the houses that they’ve got now.

Val shared what she thinks what people will be most surprised about is the look of the houses.

“They’re expecting them to look like caves, and they don't - they look like proper houses which they were!,” she said.

Another interesting tidbit that Val would like to share is how old the houses are.

She continued: “What you can also see, in some of the ceilings of the houses started from millions of years ago when they were originally formed. It’s a sandstone ridge that actually runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. These were naturally formed holes in the rock which became houses.”

These remarkable and recently occupied relics carved out of sandstone offer a glimpse into a previous time. The last cave dwellers lived in the rocks up until the 1960s.

Claire Hale, visitor experience manager at Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses, said: “We’re thrilled that Kinver Edge is featuring in this series. The Rock Houses are unlike anywhere else in the country and the programme beautifully captures both their unique history and the work taking place to care for them and the surrounding landscape.

“We hope viewers will enjoy discovering more about the people who lived here and be inspired to visit and explore Kinver Edge for themselves.”