The third episode of this ten-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this programme a look at the importance and development of road systems built from the Roman period until today. As well as a look at various highways which criss-cross the region, John also looks at buildings and...

The third episode of this ten-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this programme a look at the importance and development of road systems built from the Roman period until today. As well as a look at various highways which criss-cross the region, John also looks at buildings and structures that are linked to roads such as bridges, petrol stations and coaching inns. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing various costumes and maps of the region the opening credits. Title: Grundy Goes… By Road Traffic moving slowly along the Central Motorway in Newcastle with presenter John Grundy at the wheel of his car complaining about whatever happened to the open road. With traffic stuck in a jam John complains about how often he gets stuck here as well. As he drives along what is believed to be the B6318 Military Road in Northumberland, John explains why he still loves the open road and travelling places as well as admire the ingenuity that has gone into road building and the structures that are associated with it. To the theme of the BBC programme ‘Top Gear’ John continues to travel along the road before filling up with petrol at Chollerford Garage. As he looks around the forecourt with a smile, he describes them as ‘dependable beacons in an uncertain world’. While continuing to talk positively about petrol stations John drives along an urban dual carriageway in the rain at dusk passing several petrol stations described by John as ‘corporate colours glowing like electric oasis in a motorway desert.’ Over a montage of a Shell petrol station with drivers filling their cars with petrol or purchasing snacks from their shop, John talks about Shell’s Retail Visual Identity (RVI) and the companies desire that all their 40,000-petrol station around the world will look identical. Soon, explains John, petrol stations like this will be the most commonly seen building in the world. Standing in the forecourt John asks the viewer is this a nightmare of ‘ghastly standardisation?’ John dressed as Iohannus Grundius, a Roman Foot Solider, walks along Stanegate Roman road between Corbridge and Carlisle in Northumberland explaining how standardisation was important for the Roman’s and describes how this road is very similar to any other road in the Roman Empire being as straight as possible, only changing direction on a hill, the same width with Roman mile markers along the route. Arriving at the Roman auxiliary fort of Vindolanda a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall, Iohannus explains how the Roman’s also came up with idea of a ‘filling station’ and walks around the Roman town or Vicus at pointing out the facilities or mansio that were available to soldiers that were fairly standard across the empire. Returning to John, as he walks through what remains of Vindolanda he explains that the essential needs of road users haven’t changed in 2000 years. Bending down onto a section of Roman road he explains how the origins of the name Stanegate came from meaning ‘stone road’ before returning to Iohannus who continues to march along the road telling the viewer that it is what the Roman’s made ‘good long lasting stone roads.’ Walking along a muddy track John states that for later generations these Roman roads must have seen like a miracle of engineering as for the next 1200 years roads in the north were ‘ghastly’ to travel along being rutted, muddy and deep. As one of these roads crosses through a rural landscape John provides details on how long it would take 17th century carriages to travel between cities until the development of the turnpike or toll route. Dressed as an 18th century gentleman in a cocked hat known as Bluff Jack Grundy, a Turnpike builder, John walks along a snowy rural track explaining why these toll roads were important as away both to make money and to encourage the growth of commerce. The remains of a toll house in a town changes to a series of modern roads which started life as toll roads. Driving along one such road between Morpeth and Elston in Northumberland John explains its history and why he likes it, not just the road itself but also a sturdy stone wall which runs beside it which are ‘entirely different’ from other walls. At a crossroads or turnpike interchange John crosses both the road between Morpeth and Elston and in the opposite direction Hexham and Alnmouth also known as the Corn Road. He comes to stand beside the remains of a stone signpost, an original feature, and talks about the importance of these structures. A montage of various old milestones, another way, according to John, to know that you are on an old toll road along with more modern road signs and other wayside objects such as a cat’s eye and roadside water features. As John drives along the Corn Road just north of Rothbury he expresses a desire to seek out sections of these toll roads that hasn’t been changed by progress. As the road bends around a gradient, it bypasses by a section of the original toll road that curls around a simple elegant 18th century bridge. Leaving his car John walks along another unchanged toll road off the A697 also near Rothbury which was abandoned and bypassed in 1842. Bluff Jack Grundy walks along the road before disappearing with John talking about some of the quality features or structures that still exist nearby such as a bridge and the remains of The Swinburn Arms coaching inn. John then talks with passion about the road itself with was made from Whinstone chipping that has also survived. Title: End of Part One Part Two John continues to drive along the A697 pulling into the 19th century equivalent of a Roman mansio a coaching inn, in this case The Bridge of Aln Hotel at Whittingham in Northumberland. Getting out of the car and heading to the bar he provides details of the facilities these coaching inn needed, a montage of other inns in the region including The Bull at Morpeth, Anglers Arms at Weldon Bridge, Tankerville Arms at Wooler and The Collingwood Arms at Cornhill-on-Tweed on the Scottish Border. Standing in the doorway of The Bridge of Aln John talks about the typical architectural styles of such building, a ‘perfect 19th century motorway service area’. But he asks, what is missing? Following views of the coaching yard behind the hotel, a local smithy or blacksmith shop for ‘running repairs.’ Again, John goes through some of the architectural characteristics of these buildings. Standing on a ford which crosses the River Wansbeck near Wallington Hall in Northumberland, John explains that fords like these were the simplest but most elegant way to cross a river. He provides details on the ford history as well as why he likes its construction. However, engineers since the Roman times have taken ‘daring chances to show marvellous ingenuity to build bridges.’ A small historic bridge changes to a much large modern road bridge and a motorbike crossing Wallington Bridge, again near Wallington Hall. John is saddened that most of those engineers who designed these bridges are ‘virtually anonymous.’ Twizel Bridge over River Till near Duddo for example is a marvel piece of engineering, but no one knows who the master engineer was. Crossing the River Tweed at Berwick-upon-Tweed is Berwick Bridge built by a man who is almost unknown, James Burrell. Over a montage of the bridge John gives a history of its construction pointing out some of its architectural features and explains why he loves bridges so much. Crossing the Union Chain Bridge, a turnpike bridge near Berwick-upon-Tweed, John explains how this bridge in 1820 was at the cutting edge of technology being the first suspension bridge in Europe. To prove the flexibility of the wrought iron chain links invented for the bridge and designer by Royal Navy officer Captain Samuel Brown John jumps up and down watching the roadway move. Walking along the walkway on the High-Level Bridge in Newcastle, John talks about some of its history and architectural details being designed by Robert Stephenson in 1845 as the first high level crossing of the River Tyne for the new railway. As John pushes a bicycle up the nearby cobbled Hanover Street, he imagines what modern bridges like the High-Level Bridge would have looked like to those who crossed the river by ‘foot or hoof.’ John talks about the construction of Hanover Street which is made from granite cobbles that were once seen in every city and a testament to the legacy of Victorian road building. With traffic crossing it a montage of the Tyne Bridge, a 20the century construction for the motor car and an example of the final and absolute supremacy of the road. As John continues to drive through the Northumberland countryside, he asks what has 20th century roads to offer? A montage of garages such as the one at Belsay which is a converted shed, and another purpose built one at Rothbury built like a train shed with a shop built into it. A montage of John standing at various bus shelters most, he says, intensely depressing, but finds one that is a little bit more ambitious at Stannington designed and built for the village by artist Laurence Whistler for the 1937 coronation of George VI. Over a montage of the Berwick New Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed built with prestressed concrete, John explains how the 20th century was when concrete came into its own. Cars travelling across another smaller bridge on the road between Newcastle and Wooler also built, in part, with concrete. Returning to the city and with John driving under the Gateshead Highway flyover, he talks about the many changes that have taken place on roads in the 20th century that have made motoring a ‘journey into hell’. However, the programme ends with him back on the open road travelling through rural Northumberland looking out for signs of ‘man’s ingenuity in the roads that he built’ and for the joy of the open road. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera Mike Parker Sound Paul Graham Dubbing Mixer John Cook Electrician George Bush Costume Tom Robson Graphics Alan Davidson Title Music John Cook Production Assistant Eileen Brown, Celia Cavanagh On-line Editor Howard Beebe Director / Producer Roger Burgess End title: Tyne Tees Television © 1996