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It was a great fun to explore the story of six places in different parts of England during a sublime summer.

All the villages we looked at have wonderful, surprising histories. All are very special in their own ways, but they also represent the heritage of hundreds of other villages throughout the country.

A new take on villages

We tend to think of our most beloved villages as timeless and unchanging – places that have always been there, watching the centuries go by while much more exciting things happened elsewhere.

We forget that for most of our history cities and towns didn’t exist and it was our villages and rural communities that fostered growth, innovation and progress. It is only during the last 150 years or so that Britain has changed from a predominantly rural society, to one dominated by huge urban growth.

Surprisingly resilient

In our forgetfulness of their past we are in danger of taking our villages for granted today. Villages and their communities have proved to be resilient over hundreds of years, and will thrive in the future, but not without careful and creative management.

Don't forget to watch Pubs, Ponds And Power: The Story Of The Village on 22 January at 7.30pm on 麻豆约拍 Four and 麻豆约拍 iPlayer.