Hidden History of Britain Hidden History of Britain

Documentary · 2018 · 45 min Prime Video
Available on Prime Video

Deserted villages, abandoned prisons, empty hospitals and derelict military bases... there is a treasure trove of crumbling buildings across Britain lying dormant, untouched for decades and frozen in time. In this series Michael Portillo will roll up his sleeves to become a guerrilla urban explorer of Britain's most exciting abandoned buildings.

Documentary · 2018 · 45 min
Starring Michael Portillo
Director Ruairi Fallon

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1

    The Royal London Hospital - Healthcare for All

    Built in the East End of London 250 years ago, to provide free medical care for some of the poorest and most deprived people in Britain the London Hospital has pioneered medical breakthroughs and healthcare for generations of men, women and children.

    43 min · Jun 29, 2021
  • EPISODE 2

    Orford Ness - Defence of the Realm

    On edge of the Suffolk coast lie some of Britain's most mysterious ruins. Monumental concrete bunkers rusting radar towers and crumpled military hardware; a lens into a bygone era of secrets, spies and superpowers. For almost a century Orford Ness was owned by the MOD and when it closed in 1993 its buildings were still shrouded in secrecy. In this episode, Michael sets out to unlock its secrets.

    44 min · Jun 29, 2021
  • EPISODE 3

    Shepton Mallet - Crime and Punishment

    Michael unlocks the doors to Shepton Mallet prison to uncover the story of British crime and punishment. Since it opened its doors 400 years ago, this prison has seen thousands of prisoners, numerous executions and countless escape attempts.

    44 min · Jun 29, 2021
  • EPISODE 4

    Imber Village - The Wages of War

    Hidden away in the heart of the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire is the abandoned shell of Imber. A thousand-year-old-village, which was once a vibrant community before a series of extraordinary events transformed it into a desolate ghost town.

    1 hr · May 10, 2018
  • EPISODE 1

    Plastic Surgeon Pioneers - Cambridge Military Hospital

    The series returns as Michael visits the former Cambridge Military Hospital in the garrison town of Aldershot, Hampshire to learn of the far-reaching legacy of the medical innovations that took place there.

    44 min · Nov 1, 2018
  • EPISODE 2

    Local Heroes - Manchester Fire Station

    Michael ventures inside the London Road Fire Station which was decommissioned in 1986. He learns how the devastating loss of life suffered by the brigade led to the profession being transformed.

    44 min · Nov 8, 2018

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Michael Portillo

    Host
  • R‌F

    Ruairi Fallon

    Director
  • R‌F

    Ruairi Fallon

    Producer
  • J‌G

    Jazz Gowans

    Producer

About

Hidden History of Britain

Documentary

Deserted villages, abandoned prisons, empty hospitals and derelict military bases... there is a treasure trove of crumbling buildings across Britain lying dormant, untouched for decades and frozen in time. In this series Michael Portillo will roll up his sleeves to become a guerrilla urban explorer of Britain's most exciting abandoned buildings.

Information

Studio
Special Broadcasting Service
Released
2018

Languages

Original Audio
English (Australia)
Subtitles
English (United Kingdom) (SDH)
  • Español (México)
  • العربية
  • Русский
  • 简体中文
  • Français (France)
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  • Tiếng Việt
  • 繁體中文 (台灣)
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Cameroun
  • Cape Verde
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Congo, Republic of
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania, United Republic Of
  • Tunisia
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uganda
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • 中国大陆
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Kazakhstan
  • 대한민국
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
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  • Malaysia (English)
  • Maldives
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
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  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Georgia
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Montenegro
  • Nederland
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Romania
  • Россия
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Guyana
  • Honduras (Español)
  • Jamaica
  • México
  • Montserrat
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and The Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay (English)
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)
  • الولايات المتحدة
  • США
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