Fred Dibnah's Building of Britain (BBC 2002 - Complete Series)

Fred DibnahΓΓé¼Γäós Building of Britain should be made required viewing for all students of

history, archaeology, building conservation and architecture. Fred is able to make

everything come to life.

The late Fred Dibnah was a modern renaissance man. For not only did Fred say how something

was built in times gone by, he would show the viewer, using exquisite drawings that he had

executed himself, models or full-scale replicas, how the techniques had actually been

employed by master craftsmen of times gone by.

Episodes 1 and 2: The Art of Castle Building and Might Cathedrals.

He explains how the castles were designed, how they were constructed, how they were managed

and also, using a technique that Fred still used, how they could be taken during a siege.

FredΓΓé¼Γäós description of how the cathedrals were made (complete with working scale models of

Medieval construction techniques) is not only interesting but also somewhat moving, too. An

interesting aside was that Fred was able to show carpenterΓΓé¼Γäós marks on wood that were used to

ensure that beams fitted into beams. A sobering thought that the master carpenter who made

those marks has been dead for 1,000-odd years. Yet his work is still a testament to his

skills, brought to life by Fred Dibnah.


Episodes 3 and 4: The Age of the Carpenter and Scottish Style.


The age of the carpenter describes how the skills of the carpenter really came into their

own during the time of the Tudor great houses, when newly-wealthy merchants decided that

they required a grand house for their family, suitable to their new status. Fred also

pointed out some of the problems in these houses caused by faulty construction techniques.

He also showed how these are being put right by using modern engineering solutions.

Scottish Style covers what was basically the Adams style. Fred Dibnah examines examples of

what became known as Scottish Baronial style. He takes the viewer round Glamis Castle,

pointing out how a relatively straightforward stone structure was transformed into the

wonderful structure that we see today, by using teams of master stonemasons. The plasterwork

in the castle was executed by experts from Italy. Of particular note the violin, skilfully

created out of a mould and plaster. As Fred discovered the tale that the plaster violin was

a real violin, dipped in plaster was not right. The true story was much more interesting.

And Fred has a reasonably successful go at plaster work himself.

Episodes 5 and 6: Building the Canals and Victorian Splendour

Here, of course, Fred Dibnah comes into his own. For this is FredΓΓé¼Γäós favourite era, I think.

The Industrial Revolution and then into the times of Victorian Britain.

He returns home to Bolton to look at what remains of the once-extensive canal system and to

explain not only how they were constructed (complete with models, of course) but also why

they were constructed.

In Victorian Splendour Fred Dibnah takes a look at the fantastic work of Pugin when he was

required to rebuild the Palace of Westminster in Medieval style, to match the remains of the

palace. He shows how it was built, and how Big BenΓΓé¼Γäós clock tower was constructed and also

reveals that Victorian pennies are still used to help regulate the running of the clock.



The specially written music by Elizabeth Parker, is outstanding.




Enjoy and Seed!!