The Great British Story: Regional Histories

2012 · 30m · History

How the people of England developed their own local identity over 1,500 years of history.

Episodes

▶1. Furness Journey30m · Stuart Maconie visits the Furness Peninsula. Here, he discovers evidence of a Viking past, the founding of a new religion and the importance of the railways to Barrow's industrial heritage.▶2. Glastonbury30m · Westcountry comedian Tom Craine discovers the rich and colourful history of Glastonbury and uncovers its role in some of the most extraordinary events that Britain has ever seen. From the birth of Christianity in Europe to Henry VIII's dissolution of the abbey and execution of the abbot, Tom journeys through 2000 years of history - from Jesus to Jay-Z - to separate fact from fiction.▶3. Tamar Valley Voyage30m · Jonathan Foyle sails the River Tamar in Cornwall to discover how mineral wealth shaped the history of this beautiful valley.▶4. The New Forest30m · Jon Cuthill is in the New Forest discovering some of the Great British Stories from the last one thousand years. From the hunt for the lost Anglo Saxon settlement wiped out by William the Conquerer to the restoration of the vast chalk letters carved into the heath by pilots of one of Britain's first ever flying schools.▶5. London's Docklands30m · Peter Snow takes a journey around east London's docklands and charts its rise and fall over the centuries. He hears the extraordinary stories of gruesome traditions, lost craftsmanship and secretive communities.▶6. Ironbridge Uncovered30m · Former boxer Richie Woodhall loves history. He wants to uncover the secrets of historic hotspot Ironbridge, the place where he grew up. Starting with the soldiers names on the town's War Memorial, he goes on a journey of discovery, retracing relatives of the dead soldiers and piecing together what life was like for them in the early 1900s.▶7. The River Trent30m · A waterway dividing north from south, county from county. Tom Cunliffe sets sail on historic boats exploring 200 years of history along the Trent. He discovers how this river has shaped the people and places along its course.▶8. The Taming of Cambridgeshire30m · Rory McGrath enjoys an historical journey into Cambridge and reveals how the county was tamed from a boggy, mosquito-infested landscape into one of Britain's most wealthy and clever counties. Using a variety of boats, stilts and a bicycle, Rory travels through Cambridgeshire and meets the people who can show how our ancestors survived and created the beautiful city of Cambridge. 500 years ago, malaria was rife, and the Cam was a filthy shadow of the idyllic river that attracts thousands of tourists today, but a combination of chance and determination led to a series of discoveries that changed the health of the country.▶9. From the Dales to the Sea30m · Helen Skelton follows the River Wear to discover the clues to fifteen hundred years of Northern history. Helen discovers how ancient buildings, local tradition, ancient maps and even a river bed can help reveal our past - and explain just how our towns and cities have grown.▶10. Along the Aire30m · Amy Garcia takes a journey on foot and by boat to discover thousands of years of history along the River Aire in Yorkshire, from its ancient source above Malham Cove to the industrial and post-industrial heartland of Leeds and beyond. Amy discovers why the river has seen great battles as well as sustaining industry, leisure and religious faith for the people of Yorkshire over many centuries.▶11. From the White Cliffs to Hastings30m · Built to defend the country against invasion from Napoleon's navy, the Royal Military Canal zigzags from Folkestone in Kent to Hastings in Sussex. It passes by the Cinque Port of Hythe, across the smugglers territory of Romney Marsh, through the ancient ports of Rye and Winchelsea, ending at the shifting shingle of Cliff End. Travelling the length of the route, Shaun Williamson discovers how the need to protect and defend the nation shaped the lives of the common people living on the edge of Britain, during some of the toughest times in our history, from well before 1066 to the present day.▶12. Dundee30m · Songwriter and Deacon Blue vocalist Ricky Ross returns to his home town of Dundee to investigate both its history and hidden landscapes. Dundonians and local experts guide Ricky through the archives and streets where evidence of his ancestors' struggles and achievements still remains.

More Like This

Armada: 12 Days to Save England

2015

Three-part documentary about the sinking of the Spanish Armada, featuring dramatic reconstructions and information gleaned from recently recovered documents. Dan Snow takes to the sea to tell the story of how England came within a whisker of disaster in summer 1588.

More info →

G.B.H.

1991 · ★ 6.3

GBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.

More info →

Afterlife

2005 · ★ 7.2

University lecturer Robert Bridge becomes involved in a series of supernatural events surrounding medium Alison Mundy.

More info →

Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere

2004 · ★ 7.6

Max And Paddy's Road To Nowhere is the much-loved sequel to Peter Kay's critically-acclaimed comedy series, "Phoenix Nights". Written by and starring Peter Kay and Patrick McGuinness, this six-part comedy/drama series is the story of clueless Phoenix Club bouncers Max (Kay) and Paddy (McGuinness), as they escape clubland in their prized motor-home and take to the open highway.

More info →

Prime Suspect

1991 · ★ 7.8

Highly skilled Detective Inspector Jane Tennison battles to prove herself in a male dominated world.

More info →

Heartbeat

1992 · ★ 7.2

Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.

More info →