Episode 1
Engineering
Aug 28, 2015
The struggles of the builders and engineers tasked with creating a landscape of canals over the rugged terrain surrounding the Pennine hills.
Episode 2
Geology
Aug 28, 2015
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.
Episode 3
Capitalism
Aug 28, 2015
The story of 'canal mania', the period of activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy, now centred in London.
Episode 4
The Workers
Aug 28, 2015
The tales of the men who built the canals - the navigators, or navvies - focusing on their work on the Manchester Ship Canal.
Episode 5
The Boat People
Aug 28, 2015
The people who operated the canal boats, carrying fuel and goods around the country.
Episode 6
Heritage
Aug 28, 2015
How the nation's canals were saved following years of postwar neglect, becoming places of tranquillity and popular for boating holidays.
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