In this third episode, Dan and Conrad conclude their epic expedition around the Isles of Scilly. Travelling on board Conrad’s historic boat ‘Bounty’s End’, they explore the impressive defences that line the islands’ coastlines that made them almost impregnable - guarding the Atlantic approaches.
For hundreds of years, military planners have recognised the strategic importance of the Isles of Scilly. The island’s position at the crossroads of several important sea routes made them a vital asset for Britain.
There aren’t many places in the British Isles where you can see the evolution of coastal defences from medieval to modern in such a concentrated area. Join Dan Snow and Conrad Humphreys for the final leg of their historic voyage.
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Life Underwater: Inside the HMS Alliance
Submarine veteran Commodore Eric Thompson gives Dan Snow a tour of HMS Alliance, now preserved at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Portsmouth.
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Ghost Ships: Forgotten Wrecks of the ...
All around the UK, in rivers and streams, and in the mud on the side of riverbeds are the remains of our maritime past, which helps us understand who were are today.
In 2013, a survey around the UK identified 199 different assemblages of hulks, remains of craft. These included paddle ships, ferr...
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Henry's Forts: Castles on the Coast
On the 26 February 2021, around 38 metres of wall collapsed at Hurst Castle, one of a series of vital coastal forts built by Henry VIII in the 16th century to protect England from threat of invasion by the European powers. Recently, Dan went out on his kayak to assess the damage at the castle whi...
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