Canals: The Making of a Nation

Engineering

2015-08-28 · 29m

The struggles of the builders and engineers tasked with creating a landscape of canals over the rugged terrain surrounding the Pennine hills.

Geology

2015-08-28 · 29m

How the process of building Britain's canals resulted in furthering geological knowledge, as surveyor William Smith created the first geological map of England and Wales.

Capitalism

2015-08-28 · 29m

The story of 'canal mania', the period of activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy, now centred in London.

The Workers

2015-08-28 · 29m

The tales of the men who built the canals - the navigators, or navvies - focusing on their work on the Manchester Ship Canal.

The Boat People

2015-08-28 · 29m

The people who operated the canal boats, carrying fuel and goods around the country.

Heritage

2015-08-28 · 29m

How the nation's canals were saved following years of postwar neglect, becoming places of tranquillity and popular for boating holidays.