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Beside the Seaside

First transmitted in 1969, Bird's Eye View traces the origins of the British seaside holiday, said to lie with King George III.

First transmitted in 1969, Bird's Eye View traces the origins of the British seaside holiday, said to lie with King George III.

Concentrating on the South West, the flying camera captures the natural beauty and character of the British people beside the sea. The programme was written and narrated by poet John Betjeman, who was famous for being well versed in myth and mirth.

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50 minutes

Last on

Sat 21 Nov 1992 11:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except East, South East & Yorkshire

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A Green and Pleasant Land

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From Bishop Rock to Muckle Flugga

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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Betjeman Collection

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Betjeman Collection
Rediscover the documentaries that made Betjeman a much-loved figure on British television.


Did You Know?

Britain's climate and coastline are partly created by the sea. The Atlantic Ocean continually shapes the South West peninsula, a diverse coastline consisting of dramatic headlands and contrasting lowlands. Pockets of tough granite offer most resistance to the elements. Marine deposits from the Devonian period (some 400 million years ago) have been found inland, indicating that the area was once covered by ocean. In the medieval era, 'ship money' was levied by the English Crown on coastal regions to maintain the Navy during war time. Its revival and enforcement as a general nationwide tax by King Charles I in 1634 resulted in widespread opposition and was a contributing factor to the outbreak of the English Civil War.

About Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Collection programmes

Programmes are selected, in part, for their historical context and reflect the broadcast standards and attitudes of their time, which may not accord to some current Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ editorial guidelines. We aim to select programmes which can be shown in their entirety but in some cases edits are required.

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Featured in...

  • Aerial Journeys

    Looking at the British landscape from the air.

  • The Way We Lived

    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ life, technology, transport and travel in the 20th Century.

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