Chopping Off Cornwall and Devon - A Short History.

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 21 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 302

  • @neilthehermit4655
    @neilthehermit4655 Рік тому +118

    Paul, the best teachers are ones that bring the story alive. - You bring every story alive. Well done.

  • @sjtutty
    @sjtutty Рік тому +57

    Maybe not an academic but a great story teller, thanks for keeping us informed and entertained!

  • @martinmarsola6477
    @martinmarsola6477 Рік тому +18

    Great to see you again today, Paul. Always look forwards to the videos. Say hello to Rebecca for me, and enjoy the week ahead! ❤❤😊😊

  • @Voysey
    @Voysey Місяць тому +2

    It was actually Devon & Cornwall's plan to gain independence! Sadly, we were thwarted by second home owners! 😅
    Fantastic video, Paul! I love how passionate you are about what you cover. You made the history come alive!

  • @Deepthought-42
    @Deepthought-42 Рік тому +12

    Paul, you are no tree falling in te woods that is heard only once.
    You are more like the breeze that flows through them bringing a breath of fresh air to hitherto relatively unknown places. 😊
    Keep up the good work and don’t get too many bramble scratches. 👍

  • @anthonygardiner6213
    @anthonygardiner6213 Рік тому +23

    Cutting it off, my wife has threatened Me with this many times, seriously though, just watched it, very informative.

  • @veridiannexus3535
    @veridiannexus3535 Рік тому +28

    Thankyou Paul the way you make history come alive is perfect , Your the best little tree in the Woods!!!

  • @davidwilkinson333
    @davidwilkinson333 9 місяців тому +4

    Great vid, Paul, thank you.
    A good friend of mine, lives along the Polden Ridge. Her Grandfather was one of a small group of peat cutters who found the 'Sweet Tack'. Needless to say the credit went to the boss!
    My understanding was that the Roman merchants, to avoid the treacherous navigation around the tip of Cornwall, would portage their cargoes from the port at Radipole (Weymouth) overland via Dorchester to Ilchester, the hivhest navigable point on the River Parrett. From here it would be shipped down the Parrett to the port at Dumball (Bridgwater) and thence across the Bristol Channel bound for the Legionary fortress at Caerleon and south Wales.

  • @colclumper
    @colclumper Рік тому +5

    Wow I live in Bridgewater MA and didn't realize how closely aligned Bridgewater and Taunton are here in America too

    • @mikhailfranco
      @mikhailfranco 2 місяці тому

      Yes, it is surprising. I was brought up in Taunton, Somerset, but lived in Boston for many years.
      The Bridgwater in Somerset is spelt differently.

  • @ArcAudios77
    @ArcAudios77 Рік тому +3

    Paul, Great watch & education as always.
    Best wishes for you & the 'Good Lady'.
    Regards from Western Scotland.

  • @ChicagoDB
    @ChicagoDB 10 місяців тому +4

    Thank you Paul for all the fascinating information you bring to us…I’m an American but greatly enjoy the material and historical insights you provide to viewers.

  • @syncrosimon
    @syncrosimon Рік тому +3

    My old dog walk was along the canal there at Nynehead. There is also a lovely Holloway at Nynehead, never knew the boat lift was in those bushes, walked across there many times. Very interesting 👍👍

  • @douglasfleetney5031
    @douglasfleetney5031 Рік тому +9

    Brilliant Paul. Really enjoyed that.The Sweet Track is a must visit for me as well. Thanks for doing this one.

  • @davie941
    @davie941 Рік тому +23

    this was really interesting , well done and thank you Paul and Rebecca 😊😍

  • @hedleythorne
    @hedleythorne Рік тому +6

    Superb film - a bit of Romans, canals, railways and Paul jumping into undergrowth. Life doesn't get much better than this.

    • @pwhitewick
      @pwhitewick  Рік тому +1

      Consciously aware now that Paul jumping into the undergrowth needs to be a regular thing! ;-)

    • @hedleythorne
      @hedleythorne Рік тому +1

      @@pwhitewick Paul is the new David Bellamy.

  • @smallsleepyrascalcat
    @smallsleepyrascalcat Рік тому +18

    This is the type of video I long to watch on youtube. And you never disappoint to deliver this kind of video. The research, the storytelling, brilliant, I love it. It's truly a privilege to be able to watch your works. ❤

    • @pwhitewick
      @pwhitewick  Рік тому +2

      🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

    • @philiptownsend4026
      @philiptownsend4026 Рік тому +3

      There is another aspect too that I very much appreciate.
      That is the planning and production of the video, difficult to do if searching for a feature from the past in an unknown place, not knowing if it still exists, adapting and developing the story on the fly. All the while planning the video's editing and look-and-feel.
      The unseen work out in the field with the drone to achieve a few seconds of footage to illustrate the geography from another angle.
      The work with a tripod to make walk-by shots and the pacing back and forth to achieve one second atmospheric clips illustrating your journey.
      Similar work to show the variety of gate closing mechanisms that you encounter and show for one second, not mentioning them but showing us the tactile experience you had in that instance. It makes us feel we are there with you.
      The raising of sea level illustrated by neatly editing a scan of an OS map, tracing contour lines to show a past water level shown for just 1 or 2 vital seconds to illustrate the proof of a theory and to help us to understand it in it's context.
      I watch your superbly assembled productions in awe of the, thought, imagination, work, persistence and skill that goes into them.
      I've tried producing videos, it isn't easy and isn't for everyone.
      I see you apparently effortlessly crossing back and forth over the unseen boundaries between technical, artistic, and storytelling skills that you do so well, weaving them together to bring us your creamy smooth and slick productions.
      You have truly found your niche and mastered the new art of what I call "specialised citizen broadcasting" that UA-cam makes possible to inform, educate and entertain us. This in itself would make a super documentary or even a video maker's text book.
      Well done Rebecca and Paul, you have a place in our cultural landscape.

  • @tpobrienjr
    @tpobrienjr Рік тому +3

    What a walk!

  • @theonlywoody2shoes
    @theonlywoody2shoes Рік тому +17

    You may not consider yourself to be an “academic”, but my dictionary notes this term relates to education, and you are certainly educating me (and hopefully the other 87,600 subscribers here.
    You may not have “an ‘ology”, but you certainly have the ability to tell a story in an interesting and engaging way - if only some of the “professionals” who look down on those outside their profession had even 10% of your skills in this area.
    Thanks for all you (and Rebecca) do.

    • @tsl56
      @tsl56 Рік тому +1

      Perhaps you two should investigate the Rebecca Riots in South Wales. As it was all about turnpikes, it would be right up your street.

    • @tsl56
      @tsl56 Рік тому +2

      As I was born in West Somerset, I have a vested interest in this topic. Somerset now has a unitary local authority, enacted against a local referendum to best suit the mythical needs of the trickle-down economists. It is very much a county of two parts, with the west of the county being greatly disadvantaged; but the locals are still rather proud of their differences. And rightly so!

    • @tsl56
      @tsl56 Рік тому +2

      Surprised you didn't mention the still open Tiverton stretch of the canal. It is a few miles long, and a comparatively wide canal. Very scenic and very popular with anglers. Not to mention it has horse-drawn tourist narrow boats. It has a wide towpath which also doubles as a walking trail. I visited it in 2010 and found it well worth the visit. It suffered a major breach sometime in the noughties, as one stretch follows the contours around a hill. But it was rebuilt before 2010.

  • @raphaelnikolaus0486
    @raphaelnikolaus0486 Рік тому +13

    Anyone could do this sort of video, Paul, yes. But you are the one (or one of the few) actually doing it! And in an appealing way too. So, thank *you* for enlightening us with your curiosity :)

  • @Sarge084
    @Sarge084 Рік тому +4

    I think it's your unbridled enthusiasm that brings the story to life, even if the subject matter isn't of personal interest to many of your viewers.

  • @shirleylynch7529
    @shirleylynch7529 Рік тому +10

    Well done. Keep telling us your stories. We are all listening. Thank you.

  • @stepheneyles2198
    @stepheneyles2198 Рік тому +6

    There's me thinking this was a video about Cornwall's desire to be independent from the rest of the country!
    Thanks for struggling through all that mud and brambles to bring us such interesting stories, it certainly saves us from having to bother! :-))

  • @davidberlanny3308
    @davidberlanny3308 Рік тому +9

    Great collection of routes, really enjoyed watching. I definitely heard that tree falling as well, well done!!

  • @darreno9874
    @darreno9874 8 місяців тому +2

    Certainly not a Billy no mates tree falling silently in the woods.
    Great video, thank you. God bless

  • @leannemaidment5224
    @leannemaidment5224 Рік тому +9

    You are a great storyteller but it's the research that goes into each one that make them even better. I went on a school trip to those marshes when I was 13 and that Sweet Track kicked off my love of history!

  • @danbuckman5691
    @danbuckman5691 Рік тому +10

    Another fascinating story, so well told. Thank you for bringing the stories of our land to life so vividly.

  • @bobsrailrelics
    @bobsrailrelics Рік тому +5

    That caisson for the canal lift is epic. Hard to believe, as you say, so much has gone. You can tell Rebecca wasn't there, no way would have got near that swing if she was 😂 Thanks for another great video.

  • @wamgoc
    @wamgoc Рік тому +11

    Hi Guys, I'm fortunate enough to live in the area, Wellington Allerford, and absolutely love that you have told this story! I enjoy the walks round here and its very fascinating aspects! Great channel!

  • @fireinsurance
    @fireinsurance Рік тому +3

    Well who knew? Thank you for the story telling Paul. Fascinating insight into our past and long forgotten engineering.

  • @patchso
    @patchso Рік тому +2

    A fascinating ‘tree falling over’. Great video.

  • @dlittlester
    @dlittlester Рік тому +1

    Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate what you do.

  • @malcolmrichardson3881
    @malcolmrichardson3881 Рік тому +3

    Fascinating stuff, particularly those early forerunners of the Anderton Lift. Puts you in mind of similar attempts at North-South canal 'short-cuts', such as the Wey and Arun Canal, which suffered a similar fate at the hands of the railway.

  • @danielbarrows7144
    @danielbarrows7144 Рік тому +1

    Random video of Paul having a little swing in the forest in the middle of the main video! Lol feels like an Easter egg 😂

  • @AndyWoodger
    @AndyWoodger Рік тому +6

    @paulandrebeccawhitewick not an academic but enthusiasm for a subject encourages research, excellent reporting and your editing is pretty good as well!

  • @chazzyb8660
    @chazzyb8660 Рік тому +2

    Paul, yup you are a storyteller, telling me stuff I didn't need to know, but I'm very glad I now do. Thanks mate, and thank you both!

  • @scruffythejanitor1969
    @scruffythejanitor1969 Місяць тому +1

    Finally! A UA-cam tutorial I can finally get some use out of. Time for the Devonwall empire to begin!

  • @martinduddridge329
    @martinduddridge329 Рік тому +2

    I live in Bridgwater. I know a fair bit about the area upto about 50 miles radius. When ever you do a video in this area, you find and show things I didn’t know about. Many thanks.

  • @ste2442
    @ste2442 Рік тому +5

    Absolutely tip top channel this and it just keeps getting better . Well done Mate .

  • @newforestpixie5297
    @newforestpixie5297 Рік тому +2

    the spirits of those engineers & labourers should smile upon you for all this effort to re discover their endeavours Paul. this is really interesting stuff 👍😁

  • @charliebalch3023
    @charliebalch3023 Рік тому +5

    This is just a brilliant you tube video. Well made edited and super informative. More like this please.

    • @pwhitewick
      @pwhitewick  Рік тому +1

      Check out the back catalogue... 300 to catch up with. 🤪

  • @user-vr2rq5hl6l
    @user-vr2rq5hl6l 4 місяці тому +2

    You have become my favorite tree in the forest! I enjoy being an eardrum and listening to your fascinating stories.

  • @southerneruk
    @southerneruk Рік тому +2

    Crompton Dundon hill, was being used during the Stone Age, Where you had your bit of fun on the swing, there is a spring, that whole hill holds water

    • @pwhitewick
      @pwhitewick  Рік тому

      Oh wow. I had assumed it goes back some way owing to the geography!

    • @southerneruk
      @southerneruk Рік тому

      @@pwhitewick it do go back a long way, but with hill that contains fresh water, then it becomes not that surprising, Been told the water comes from up on top of 5 valleys hills

  • @mustrumridcully3853
    @mustrumridcully3853 Рік тому +6

    Only found you on You Tube recently, but I subscribed quickly. You have a clear and relaxed delivery that makes history interesting. I spend my life giving technical advice - the best explanations involve a story.

  • @robertallen8715
    @robertallen8715 Рік тому +4

    Good work Paul, much appreciated. Thankyou

  • @katherinekinnaird4408
    @katherinekinnaird4408 Рік тому +4

    I'm thankful for your stories ,research and diligence. I look forward to your next video.

  • @johnblack9499
    @johnblack9499 Рік тому +3

    Awesome video, I grew up a few miles from the Nynehead Boat Lift. I stumbled across it one day on a walk and wondered what on earth it was - no signage back then. Keep up the great work!

  • @miketherefurbisher8000
    @miketherefurbisher8000 Рік тому +2

    Great Stuff Paul!! "Much appreciated"

  • @billmmckelvie5188
    @billmmckelvie5188 Рік тому +1

    You deserve a special UA-cam award as you boldly go to new frontiers, right to the middle of a thicket. For a minute I was about to become angry with Google as ai hthey hadn't joined up the two halves of the photo map correctly. I enjoyed your dig into the past, thanks!

  • @flipinfish
    @flipinfish Рік тому +1

    Well presented very interesting narrative. Something I would watch on mainstream TV.

  • @andrewlamb8055
    @andrewlamb8055 Рік тому +3

    Thanks Paul, enjoyable as is the norm! 👋👋👏👏⚔️⚔️👍🇦🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

  • @timofthomas
    @timofthomas Рік тому +3

    Really liked the format - looking at the same landscape from multiple different eras. Nice work.

  • @stephendavies6949
    @stephendavies6949 Рік тому

    Great story-telling. Thanks

  • @lindamccaughey6669
    @lindamccaughey6669 Рік тому +2

    That was fantastic thanks Paul. All these discoveries are quite exciting. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

  • @herbrand47
    @herbrand47 Рік тому +3

    Paul, your mini documentary's as I call them are always very informative, full of details and always enjoyable. Thank you.

  • @andyhill242
    @andyhill242 Рік тому

    This is a very interesting and amazing video Paul / Rebecca.

  • @briantinker7290
    @briantinker7290 Рік тому +3

    Great history well told many thanks!

  • @calebwright6151
    @calebwright6151 Рік тому

    Another fine video Paul & great costume changes

  • @paulinehedges5088
    @paulinehedges5088 Рік тому +2

    That was one of your best videos! LOVED it. Full of information and the scenery was tempting me to go out and look for myself.THANK YOU

  • @richieixtar5849
    @richieixtar5849 Рік тому +3

    Excellent as always, missed you last week, you're part of my Sunday now :)

  • @hainanbob6144
    @hainanbob6144 Рік тому +1

    I wish I could be a tree in the woods like you are Paul! I find these videos fascinating. Wifey and I walk a lot where we are, but there is absolutely no way to research the history, and every way to get lost in the forest and covered in leeches. We've done that more than once! PS I hear you!

  • @susantaylor927
    @susantaylor927 23 дні тому

    Thank you Paul for bringing all the nature to us along with all the info about the canals! Very interesting and wonderfully entertaining!😊

  • @sUASNews
    @sUASNews Рік тому +1

    My brother's house is just off that line, always wondered about it

  • @fabled-pilgrim
    @fabled-pilgrim Рік тому +2

    I'm pretty new to your channel but so far loving every one, look forward to your future 'waffling', lol. Btw, you seem so natural communicating facts in an engaging, educational way and on camera. Either one is a difficult skill to crack but you seem to have it nailed it. Do you have a background in teaching?

  • @nealeraleigh8239
    @nealeraleigh8239 Рік тому +1

    Incredible that you found the Aller boat lift, I had thought that the only brick lift was Nynehead so it was great to see the masonry at Aller😄

  • @richardwakelin843
    @richardwakelin843 10 місяців тому +1

    Cornwall & most of Devon was also nearly vut off during ww2 by a line of pillbox & tank traps it started in Axmouth passing through our school at Axminster going on up to North Devon/ n Somerset.

  • @davidcarbonnel6396
    @davidcarbonnel6396 Рік тому +1

    NO, THANK YOU PAUL! I absolutely love coming here to hear your wonderful stories!

  • @YannaTarassi
    @YannaTarassi Рік тому +2

    Lovely presentation as always, Sir.

  • @georgeolson3996
    @georgeolson3996 9 місяців тому +2

    I'd much rather have the sound of the tree falling over as he travels along the pathways --- than the dry scratches of an "academic's" pontificating in printed prose. 😊

  • @jefflaufer3205
    @jefflaufer3205 Рік тому

    ...and without you, there was no tree...
    Thanks for enlightening this present generation. There's no telling how many more generations are left to experience history. ❤

  • @amandachapman4708
    @amandachapman4708 Рік тому +2

    I love your storytelling and the rambles through the countryside

  • @Studio-gp4nk
    @Studio-gp4nk Рік тому

    I take pruning sheers when walking trails to remove dangerous growth only, like the one you encountered. Food for thought.

  • @Richardincancale
    @Richardincancale Рік тому +2

    This was a really excellent video! Your presentation was gripping! Music at the right (quiet) level. Great image and sound quality. Possibly your best yet!

  • @donniblanco5239
    @donniblanco5239 Рік тому

    So Much of the Creative Infrastructure and Mechanical Developments in Our History, leaves me in Wonder about the Availability of Resources, management of Logistics and Labour force Availability over such a Short Period of Time, and How this would all Stack-up when subjected to a Rigorous Feasibility Study versus Modern day Projects, using the Vast array of Earth moving and Construction Technology we are blessed with in Modern times🧐🤔 Great Solo Effort Paul Good to See you off the Leash 😜😆

  • @richardmorgan9273
    @richardmorgan9273 Рік тому

    The Somerset and Dorset Railway's original route went from Burnham-on-Sea to near Poole, the intention being to provide the land part of a route from South Wales to Northern France! Obviously, the trans-shipment problems made this impractical for both goods and passengers, but it was intended as a shorter route than going round Land's End, so it fits Paul's criteria.

  • @udorechner6846
    @udorechner6846 10 місяців тому +1

    Awesome and very interesting video about ibritish pre ndustrial history and road-/canalbuilding history at least back to the neolithikum. Thanks for those incredible Footage. Greetings from Germany.

  • @Davidm1fcf
    @Davidm1fcf Рік тому +1

    as always, a really interesting video, and had me searching through the Old Map Library and OSMaps to follow along where you were.
    Interesting fact about Chard near where you started - it claims the first powered flight by a John Stringfellow who built a steam-powered aircraft in 1848, and managed to fly it around a large room at Oram's Lace Mill.

  • @jameslye3452
    @jameslye3452 5 місяців тому

    well that brought back a memory.
    Crimson hill tunnel.
    Waded 200yds into it about 17 years ago.
    was very silted up

  • @Rail_Focus
    @Rail_Focus Рік тому

    I wasn't sure what to expect from the thumbnail, but this is a fascinating story.

  • @jackprier7727
    @jackprier7727 Рік тому

    That 1800 yard tunnel is yet another of those wild magnificent old structures that your countryside has that always brighten my interest and surprise-

  • @sdsparkes
    @sdsparkes Рік тому +2

    Thank you! Love your videos.

  • @robinhayhurst5943
    @robinhayhurst5943 Рік тому +2

    "dendrochronology".. BINGO!!!! Did I win? Been waiting months for you to say this!

  • @scotbotvideos
    @scotbotvideos Рік тому +1

    Another enjoyable adventure. Thanks for sharing. I so wanted that mystery line to be an abandoned or unfinished canal.

  • @kastandlee
    @kastandlee Рік тому +1

    Thank you for these stories of places I'm unlikely to be able to visit but that are very interesting. A friend of mine used to live in Trowbridge and showed me some of the area on the times I visited.

    • @pwhitewick
      @pwhitewick  Рік тому +1

      Anything interesting in that area?

    • @kastandlee
      @kastandlee Рік тому

      @@pwhitewick Nothing as obscure as you've found! More like driving to see places like Wells, the Cheddar Gorge, and the like. We did go see the Peat Moors museum before it closed.

  • @notmozart1
    @notmozart1 Рік тому

    my stomping ground - Time team did a great programme on The Sweet Track. Lovely video - thanks.

  • @tobycowman
    @tobycowman Рік тому +1

    I like this episode but think you missed a trick looking for a route through Somerset. The town and village names give it away. Langport where the tide would run far inland. Then there is Pylle on the Fosse way. A Peel (IoM), pill (Huntspill) or Liverpool, Hartlepool are names of ports I think from Saxon/Viking naming meaning a port. Once you got to Pylle having landed at Moridunum (Axmouth) and walked a couple of days you could wait for the high tide and take a boat across to Caerleon maybe a couple of days paddling through the levels and a days sailing from Burnham instead of the week of walking up to the Severn Crossings. The river levels were higher then as since drainage the land has risen a meter or so.

  • @Sim0nTrains
    @Sim0nTrains Рік тому +3

    Very enjoyable to watch and well presented

  • @martynbuzzing3327
    @martynbuzzing3327 Рік тому +1

    Thanks for that. A very interesting subject and told so well.

  • @randallthomas5207
    @randallthomas5207 4 місяці тому

    Sound is a physical wave phenomena. Noise is the perception of the sound. So, the tree falling in the woods always makes a sound, but not always a noise.

  • @Dave5843-d9m
    @Dave5843-d9m 4 місяці тому

    I live between Exeter and Torquay. Down here, the old main roads were really narrow and bumpy. New dual roads (A30, A38, A380) were built only around 40 years ago. It’s shocking to think how the West Country had been so effectively cut off until quite recently.

  • @oldoneeye7516
    @oldoneeye7516 9 місяців тому

    very nice to watch again. As an history-enthusiast and enjoyer of nature, this is really great. I should do something similar at my home, just for the enjoyement.
    Thx

  • @jaydee4697
    @jaydee4697 Рік тому +1

    Lovely video; thank you for sharing!

  • @adriannorthcott902
    @adriannorthcott902 4 місяці тому +1

    Very interesting video Paul .I really liked it keep them coming

  • @hvee4
    @hvee4 Рік тому +1

    Not really relevant to this video but I was walking in that field 1:25 around the same time this video was published… nice one as always though, you are the tree and we are the ears 👍🏻

  • @timsands7288
    @timsands7288 Рік тому +1

    Great video. When you were at the Chard canal I was telling the screen you should be at the Grand Western boat lifts and sure enough! We were staying at a campsite nearby and took the dog for a walk there and were fascinated. I believe the railway company bought the canal and closed it

  • @chasbodaniels1744
    @chasbodaniels1744 Рік тому

    Yet another engrossing 20 minutes! I love AND support this channel.

  • @stephanieyee9784
    @stephanieyee9784 5 місяців тому

    I Have to visit the Sweet Track! Its on my List for whenever I get back to visit England.

  • @terrenceodgers5866
    @terrenceodgers5866 Рік тому

    I believe you are far more informative and entertaining than any so called, 'academic', Paul. I enjoy your lessons from real history.

  • @leonardjackman354
    @leonardjackman354 Рік тому

    Your both amazing out in all weather bringing interesting history to our homes. Len

  • @thewhiteroom23
    @thewhiteroom23 Рік тому +2

    Very interesting and well produced.

  • @TimOE2000
    @TimOE2000 11 місяців тому

    Thank you Paul.