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
- 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
Record Stats
This record has been viewed 2023 times.