Crown & Country continued

Meridian Series 1

1. Cinque Ports

The first of six programmes in which Edward Windsor explores various sites in the South East of England examining their historical links with the Crown. When five small ports on the South Coast came to a deal with the King back in 1050, it heralded the start of Britain’s maritime power. In the alleyways of Dover and Rye, we hear of smuggling, blood letting and a very early form of ram raiding! Finally we arrive at Walmer, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth’s mother.

2. Windsor

Edward Windsor takes us home to Windsor Castle! A Royal Fortress and family home for more than 900 years. He provides a unique perspective on the stories, legends and characters not just of the Castle, but also the town, the Great Park and the surrounding countryside.

3. The New Forest

In this week’s programme, Edward Windsor takes to horseback and discovers that it was not always ponies for which the New Forest was famous. As we discover it has born witness to more than its fair share of mysterious deaths and acts of treason.

4. Portsmouth

Edward Windsor’s historical exploration of the South East of England takes him to one of the best natural harbours in the world and home of the Royal Navy. Innovation is key: here we find the first dry dock, the first iron-clad warship and it was even the fit place that tea as drunk socially!

5. Winchester

This glorious and ancient city was an ancient capital of England and Edward traces back down the years the origins of the Crown via such luminaries as King Alfred, King Edgar, and even King Arthur. More pillage and plunder, more murder and miracle.

6. Brighton and Lewes

A tale of two towns concludes this tour by Edward Windsor through some of England’s most historic sites and their connections with the Crown. The regal links between the two towns is in small part due to George IV, but has more to do with some acts of derring-do and tales of wheeling and dealing.

Meridian Series II

1. Isle of Wight

Edward Windsor travels overseas for the first in a new series of Crown and Country to the Isle of Wight. He discovers that an ancestor of his was responsible for the first salvage dive below the ocean and learns how the town records for Yarmouth came to be thrown away! He also has a brush with a band of smugglers and visits Osbourne House, the family home of Queen Victoria.

2. Aldershot

Edward Windsor goes to Farnborough to find a corner of England that is forever France and unearths the reason why Aldershot is so strongly linked with the army. We also keep with the military theme by visiting Stratfield Saye, home of the Duke of Wellington where we find out that Queen Victoria was not amused by the temperature of the house!

3. Rochester and Chatham

Rochester was famously both the scene of the first Royal abdication and ironically, the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell. Edward Windsor discovers a curious connection between the area’s most prolific author Charles Dickens, the naval dockyards at Chatham and Queen Victoria.

4. Arundel

The flower festival of Corpus Christi provides the backdrop as Edward Windsor investigates one of the oldest hereditary titles in the land - The Earl of Arundel. They are still responsible for organising many of England’s grandest state occasions nearly one thousand years after they first held the post!

5. Salisbury

Salisbury is an area steeped in myth and legend, from Stonehenge to the top of the spire in Salisbury Cathedral. Edward Windsor follows in the footsteps of his ancestors and discovers how many Royal connections there are with this beautiful part of the country. We also unearth a forgotten Palace and find out why a nobleman insisted on smuggling a factory worker to England in a butt of wine!

6. Canterbury

In 1174 a few ill-chosen words from Henry II changed the course of history. The murder of Thomas Becket shook the whole of Christendom to its roots. But as Edward Windsor discovers this darkest hour for Canterbury lead to the creation of the most visited shrine in the Kingdom and brought untold wealth to the city. We also cross paths with a deadly cook and find out why Christopher Marlowe decided to attack a tailor with a dagger!