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How the people of England developed their own local identity over 1,500 years of history.
Now playingSeason 1, Episode 1
Watching1. Furness Journey
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. Glastonbury
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 Voyage
Jonathan Foyle sails the River Tamar in Cornwall to discover how mineral wealth shaped the history of this beautiful valley.
4. The New Forest
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 Docklands
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 Uncovered
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 Trent
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 Cambridgeshire
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 Sea
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 Aire
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 Hastings
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. Dundee
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.
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