Fred Dibnah’s Building of Britain

Synopsis

A six-part series of 30-minute programmes in which steeplejack Fred Dibnah uncovers the craftsmanship behind some of the United Kingdom’s most astounding architectural feats. Each of the three tapes contains 2 programmes.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2004

Year of production

2002

Notes

Broadcast in six weekly parts on BBC2 beginning 11/2/02

Subjects

Architecture; Civil Engineering & Building

Keywords

British architecture; buildings; canals; carpentry; castles; cathedrals; engineering skills; history of architecture; Scotland; construction processes; Victorian buildings; craftsmanship

Distribution Formats

Type

VHS

Format

PAL

Price

£10.99 each or £29.99 boxed set of 3

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

3 x 60 minutes

Year

2004

Sections

Title

Mighty Cathedrals

Synopsis

Focuses on the 11th-century building programme undertaken by the Normans, which resulted in impressive fortress cathedrals at Peterborough and Ely, and a magnificent castle at Rochester.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Art of Castle Building, The

Synopsis

Fred Dibnah investigates the construction of the great chain of castles on the coast of North Wales, revealing the building techniques and revolutionary defensive features that helped Edward I subdue the rebellious Welsh.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Age of the Carpenter, The

Synopsis

Fred Dibnah looks at how carpenters have used their talents to transform buildings such as Stokesey Castle, Little Moreton Hall and Harvington Hall.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Scottish Style

Synopsis

The programme focuses on Scottish baronial style. At Glamis Castle, Fred Dibnah reveals how a simple sandstone tower house was transformed with the help of stonemasons from Aberdeen and plasterers from Italy. In addition, he visits the House of Dun near Montrose and Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Building the Canals

Synopsis

In his exploration of the engineering skills that went into the building of Britain, Fred Dibnah looks at the construction of the canal network. He visits Worsley in Lancashire to see where it all began and illustrates the early canal-building process in his garden. He also takes a canal boat on the Leeds-Liverpool waterway, revealing the hard work and skill that made such a passage possible.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Victorian Splendour

Synopsis

In this programme, devoted to 19th-century achievements, Fred Dibhan looks at how steam-powered machinery facilitated the construction of Herefordshire’s Eastnor Castle. He also takes a look at the work of architect Augustus Welby Pugin, whose buildings such as the Palace of Westminster were inspired by medieval Gothic architecture.

Duration

30 mins

Distributor

Name

Acorn Media UK

Email

customerservices@acorndvd.com

Web

http://www.acorndvd.com/ External site opens in new window

Fax

020 7627 250

Address

55 Drury Lane
London
WC2B 5SQ

Notes

Founded in 1997, Acorn specialises in distributing archival television programmes, predominantly licensed from the BBC and ITV. Sale on DVD and Blu-Ray, in Region 2 PAL format, direct and via retail outlets.

 

Available from retail outlets