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Edinburgh Through The Ages

Edinburgh Through The Ages is presented by one of the legends of Edinburgh's cultural scene, Richard De Marco.

The programme takes the viewer on an historical and artistic journey around Scotland's great capital city. Starting with the development of the city as a bronze age settlement on the castle rock and through the dangerous political climate of the 16th century, this DVD also shows how the city came of age during the Scottish enlightenment, becoming a hotbed of artistic and philosophical achievement as figures such as Allen Ramsey Jr. and intellectuals like David Hume won it the title 'The Athens Of The North'.

Edinburgh has also bequeathed more than its fair share of scientific inventions on the world, from the pneumatic tyre to the television and the Forth Bridge, which holds the title of the greatest engineering achievement of its time.

This DVD examines the huge architectural legacy of a city that moved American President Thomas Jefferson to describe its new town as one of the wonders of the age.

The sporting life of the city is also examined, from the great rivalry between Hibbs and Hearts to the hallowed turf of Murrayfield rugby fortress, as well as the legacy of having held two commonwealth games.

Richard Demarco's own unique insights and astonishing knowledge of his home town will reveal the heart and soul of this most complex and beautiful of capital cities.

Tags: Edinburgh , history

Glasgow Through The Ages

Presented by Scottish television's Angus Simpson, Glasgow Through the Ages takes us on a journey through one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Europe.

From its pre-eminent position as the British Empire's second city and as the self-proclaimed 'workshop of the world', the story of Glasgow has been one of dramatic peaks and troughs.
In the 19th century the city fathers constructed a stunning legacy of grand buildings and bold statements around this already ancient city. They managed this because of the vast wealth generated from the heavy industries along the Clyde. Buildings such as the university and the city chambers reflected a city full of riches with an optimistic future.

It was the 20th century that brought the real drama and challenge for Glasgow and its resilient population. As the British empire contracted, so Glasgow fell on hard times, becoming the 'no mean city' of popular legend where slums such as the Gorbals became a by-word for urban deprivation and whose rebellious workforce on 'Red Clydeside' fought the disintegration of the traditional industries, bringing the city to the edge of chaos in the process.

Astonishingly the city reinvented itself once more. After some hard years Glasgow rediscovered some of its old talents in design and architecture, business and tourism. Charles Rennie Mackintosh's architectural genius was recognised at last and Alexander Thomson's great churches were saved and a new generation of artists like Pete Howson came to the fore, while the past was enshrined in the modern building of the Burrell collection.

'Glasgow's miles better' was the campaign and when, in 1990, the city was made European city of culture, the rest of the world was made to believe it.
The one constant in the life of the city for the past 100 years has been the sporting battle between the 'old firm' of Celtic and Rangers and the passion burns as brightly as it always has done.

Glasgow Through the Ages covers British sport's most enduring and intense rivalry from the beginning of the century to the present day.

This programme brings you the life and times of an extraordinary city through unique insights into people and the places that have seen it survive and endure to eventually thrive and reclaim its place as the second city of Britain.

Tags: Glasgow , history

Tyneside Through The Ages

Introduced by Robson Green, Tyneside Through the Ages takes the viewer on an historical and nostalgic journey around the Tyneside area.

The story of Tyneside is one of Romans and Normans, coal and ships and of people whose spirit, invention and humour have made them famous around the world.

Discover how the Romans first came to Tyneside and how the area became the most northerly outpost of the Roman Empire. Learn of the Norman influence and of the legacy they left behind.
Tyneside has become influential because of the river Tyne. Ships were built here, coal was exported from here and great bridges span it. Jarrow became famous as the starting point for the marchers who carried the area's hopes to Parliament in the poverty-stricken 1930s and the Armstrong family built a mighty factory here whose guns and tanks were used in some of the greatest conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The railways are another significant part of Tyneside history with the Stephenson family playing a major role in the industrial revolution both in Tyneside and the nation. The building of the two great rail bridges across the Tyne played a significant role in the development of the celebrated East Coast route to Scotland and by the end of the 19th century, the railways dominated the industrial landscapes on the north and south banks of the river.

Later in the 20th century Tyneside was one of the first cities to develop its own inner city light-railway - the Metro - known and used by almost everybody.

Tyneside has an abundance of Victorian buildings created by the architect John Dobson and a major regeneration project has restored many of these fine buildings to their former glory.
In sport, Tyneside has Premier League team in Newcastle United, whose FA Cup exploits are legendary. You can thrill again to the goalscoring feats of Jackie Milburn and number 9 hero Alan Shearer.

Gateshead on the south bank of the Tyne has the international athletics stadium that has played host to many world class athletes over the years. And Gateshead has another, perhaps infamous, landmark - the car park from 'Get Carter', which is revisited along with other locations from films shot within the region.

The quayside, once buzzing with industrial activity and which fell into disuse in the 20th century, is now shown as an area with vibrant nightlife and new cultural developments such as the Baltic Arts Centre.

Tyneside Through the Ages reflects the character and tradition of an area steeped in history and it makes great viewing for Tynesiders everywhere.

Tags: Tyneside , history , Newcastle United