How The Victorians Built Britain

The development of Britain's pioneering transport system in the mid-19th century.

Michael discovers how the Victorians created the sewers and fresh, clean water for all.

Michael Buerk discovers how the Victorian era created what we know as the modern home. From the boom in housebuilding, producing gas from coal, lighting, electricity and even the birth of home entertainment, it was an era that completely transformed the way the British lived. But while many of these luxuries were the distractions of the rich, the poor in Victorian Britain suffered.

Michael Buerk investigates how the Victorians created what we know as mass manufacturing. With their advancements in technology, goods could be produced at a rate that had never been seen before. Michael discovers that these innovations were the result of one product: cotton. The industrial revolution sped up the boom in manufacturing, but there would be consequences for all this sudden growth.

Michael Buerk jumps on board an original locomotive to discover the effect that the burgeoning rail network had on Victorian Britain.He explores the role that a former coal track played in the development of the national railway, investigates Isambard Kingdom Brunel's bid to secure Bristol's future and delves into the history of the creation of the fastest engine in the world.

When Queen Victoria came to the throne, ships were the arteries of the British Empire. They made Great Britain the greatest trading nation on earth. As their dependence on dominating the oceans increased, the Victorians built the most technologically advanced ships in the world. Warships such as HMS Warrior and the luxury steamer SS Great Britain ensured that the nation ruled the wave.