12200936277?profile=originalMuch has been written about this anticipated BBC production between the pages of BPH. Well, the wait is finally over as the first two episodes will be broadcast on BBC 2 next Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th March at 6:30pm, in full HD glory.

Broadcaster John Sergeant follows in the footsteps of Victorian pioneer photographer Francis Frith who, in the 1860s embarked upon a monumental mission to attempt to document every city, town and village in Britain. John travels the country to discover more about this extraordinary man and his team and the unique record they left behind. John finds out what's changed, what's stayed the same and what has gone forever, and along the way he takes his own photographs inspired by the image taken by a Frith cameraman.

For the first episode (Chelsea to Tower Bridge), this round-Britain trip begins in London, where John will meet the first ever lady Chelsea Pensioner, find out about the real Eliza Doolittles who inspired My Fair Lady and descend deep under Tower Bridge to witness Victorian engineering at its most impressive.

In the second episode (Gravesend to Broadstairs), John travels along the North Kent coast from Gravesend to Broadstairs and finds out how much it has changed since Frith was there over a century ago; he also takes his own modern day photographs. He hitches a ride on a Thames sailing barge, finding out what people used to do in their leisure time in the 19th century and drops in on the new owners of Charles Dickens' favourite holiday home.

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Comments

  • The photo history content of the resource booklet is disappointing!

  • The BBC has produced a resource booklet to accompany the series, to include background info on Frith, photographic timelines, dating old photos etc. If any BPH readers are interested, it can be downloaded here.

  • Hi Michael,

     

    That's a great help. Thanks!

     

    John

  • Hi John,

    Glad to know that you can get BBC2 on your cable - the marvels of technology! The official title is "Britian's First Photo Album" and the schedule can be found here. Hope this helps. Enjoy ...... Mike

  • Hi Michael,

     

    Is that the actual title of the series? "Britain's History through Frith's Photographs"? I ask because I receive BBC2 on my cable program here "across the pond", and would like to tape the programs. To do this I need the correct title.

     

    Many thanks!

    John

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