In the first series of Building on the Past, Parry visited the towns of Newport, Newtown, Blaenavon, Carmarthen, Criccieth and Machynlleth, and in the second series Anglesey, Swansea, Presteigne, Lampeter, Merthyr, and Haverfordwest, relating the history of each town to its architecture.
He had inherited the family home at Bron Eifiod, near Criccieth, but in 1893 also bought the Glan Gwna estate near Caernarfon, rebuilding the hall.