Episodes

6 episodes in this season

Severn Valley Railway

45 min

Yorkshire Saw Mill

45 min

Victorian Seaside Resort

45 min

Newcomen Beam Engine

45 min

Brixham Sailing Trawler

45 min

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Birmingham Botanical Gardens

45 min

How Britain Worked

TV Series

201245m7.8

Documentary

Now playing

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Season 1 · Episode 6 · Nov 25, 2012

Birmingham Botanical Gardens may seem an unlikely place to explore the wonders of the Industrial Revolution, but hidden behind its fragrant borders Guy Martin finds a hidden world of hi-tech Victorian engineering, show-off architecture, intrepid plant-hunters scouring the furthest corners of the Empire, and city fathers terrified of the 'degenerate' urban poor. As Guy helps to get the gardens back into shape, he tries to learn one of the Industrial Revolution's most skilful and dangerous jobs: blowing glass for the gardens' enormous greenhouses. He has a go at rebuilding the very first lawnmower - another great British invention. Guy also uses a little-known 19th-century technique to make his own rock to go in the garden's restored rockery and then - if all goes to plan - he'll be given the job of turning on his newly installed fountain at the grand opening ceremony.

More details

How Britain Worked

TV Series

201245m7.8

Documentary

Now playing

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Season 1 · Episode 6 · Nov 25, 2012

More details