Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History

20131h

Maritime historian Dr Sam Willis looks at how and why the shipwreck came to loom so large in British history.

Production

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Seasons

3 Episodes • Premiered 2013

Still image for Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History season 1 episode 1: Home Waters to High Seas

1. Home Waters to High Seas

The story of the top-heavy Mary Rose, the wrecking of the Spanish Armada and the real-life sea disasters that inspired The Tempest and Robinson Crusoe.

Still image for Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History season 1 episode 2: A World Turned Upside Down

2. A World Turned Upside Down

Dr Sam Willis takes the story of shipwrecks into the Georgian age when Britain began to rule the waves and disasters at sea imperilled its trading power.

Still image for Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History season 1 episode 3: Civilising the Sea

3. Civilising the Sea

Dr Sam Willis tells how the Victorians found preventative solutions, from rockets that could fire rescue lines to lifejackets, lifeboats and the Plimsoll Line.

Cast

Photo of Sam Willis

Sam Willis

Self - Presenter

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