The second episode of the third series of ‘Grundy Goes’ 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 episode John takes a journey along what he believes is the finest river in the world, the River Tees. Along the journey from its source to the North Sea John visits both beautiful villages and large...

The second episode of the third series of ‘Grundy Goes’ 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 episode John takes a journey along what he believes is the finest river in the world, the River Tees. Along the journey from its source to the North Sea John visits both beautiful villages and large industrial complexes looking at how man and industry has been shaped and changing the landscape of Teesdale and Teesside since pre-historic times. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing various costumes and maps of the region the opening credits. Title: Grundy Goes… Downstream The Houses of Parliament on the River Thames in London changes to presenter John Grundy doing his best Cockney impersonation scoffing at the idea of going on holiday to the Northeast! Sitting in a deckchair beside the River Tees, John talks about how he came to love the Northeast and asks where would a good place be to challenge the prejudices of people from outside have about the region? The answer, he replies, is the River Tees and to drift, architecturally speaking, down it from the mountains to the sea. A montage of Whorlton Lido in North Yorkshire with its pitch-and-put golf course and the Whorlton Miniature Railway passing through it. Crossing over the Whorlton Suspension Bridge, the world’s oldest suspension bridge, the classic English village of Whorlton in County Durham with its green, village school and picturesque cottages. Sitting on a stone wall John states that the region still challenges his perceptions. Over views of various Teesdale villages he explains that he can’t believe he is in such a beautiful place and that Whorlton is one of dozens such places in the area. As he explains that it feels as if he is a Jane Austin novel, he walks past Wycliffe Hall near Barnard Castle dressed as an early 19th century gentleman. Views of the Wycliffe village ends at the village church of St Mary’s with John talking about John Wycliffe, the greatest religious reformer of the Middle Ages, who was born in the village in 1320. As John provides a history of the village of Gainford near Darlington in County Durham, he is also seen walking across the green dressed again as the early 19th century gentleman. Walking along the street as the 19th century gentleman John runs into himself and asking if Elizabeth Bennett has walked past? As traffic passing through the village of Piecebridge John points out the features that make it another charming spot such as a working farm within the village and a typical Teesdale farmhouses built long, low and painted white. A second montage of other Teesdale village including Ovingham which has its own Maypole and the old water pump and stocks in the village of Romaldkirk. Returning to the village green at Piecebridge John asks the question where did the traditional village green come from and why are they here? Stepping out from the trees comes John dressed in a trench coat and hat of a Town Planner. The two men discuss how villages like Piecebridge were planned out following the ‘Harrying of the North’ by William the Conquer in the late 11th century and designed in what is known as a ‘four row village’ meaning four rows of houses built around a rectangular green. They go onto talk about the villages being designed this way for defensive purposes and to provide protection from Viking and Scottish attacks. As the River Tees flows through rural Teesdale John explains that just because the landscape is beautiful and natural we assume it grew naturally. Over a montage of villages in the area John goes onto explains that in a sense everywhere is planned, someone at sometime needed to make a decision about where things went and what it should look like. Over views of the town of Barnard Castle and its Market Cross John talks about how the town was formally laid out by its founder Bernard I de Bailliol as two two row villages: Galgate and Horse Market. Over views of both locations and others areas around the town, John provides details on how and why they were constructed as a planned Medieval town built to support the nearby castle. Walking around what remains of the castle itself, John tells the story of John Bailliol and how he helped start the Wars of Scottish Independence in 1296 which lasted on and off for the next 400 years leading, architecturally speaking, to the Northeast becoming castle capital of the universe. Over a montage of the castle and nearby bridge crossing the Tees John explains that the Bailliol’s chose this site as it was a convenient dividing line between their Teesdale lands, the lush green farmland downstream and over views of Low Force waterfall their hunting estates of Upper Teesdale. Title: End of Part One Grundy Goes… Part Two With the waters of the Tees flowing over Low Force waterfall in the background John states that Upper Teesdale is one England’s great unspoiled beautiful places, however a planned one. He explains that since pre-historic times man have been grazing, mining and farming this land changing it out of all recognition from the original wilderness. Over a series of archive photographs showing lead mining taking place during the 19th century John talks about the history of the industry and how it has changed the landscape. Looking out across the Hudeshope Valley near Middleton-in-Teesdale the deeply scared hillside caused by the ancient mining method known as Hushing. Over views of the market town of Middleton-in-Teesdale the memorial foundation dedicated to the company who mined these hills, a Quaker company called the London Lead Company who made Middleton its regional headquarters and created within it a planned settlement. John points out some of the build including a school, library and chapels as well as workers housing. Walking along a track leading to Coldberry Lead Mine John explains the mines themselves were isolated and set back in the hill. This mine, the first mine to be owned by the London Lead Company, is one of the best preserved with a slag heap, a tunnel into the mine as well as the original stables with stalls and the lodging house or shop. Inside a museum display of what the bunkhouse looked like when the miners lived there during the week, heading back to Middleton-in-Teesdale at the weekend. Part of the route to and from the mine is via the Wynch or Winch Bridge crossing the Tees. Dressed again as the early 19th century gentleman John crosses the bridge described by early visitors as ‘a little unnerving.’ Over a montage of them John explains that few rivers can compare with the Tees in the beauty and rich variety of its bridges. Ending on the Transporter Bridge crossing the Tees at Middlesbrough John stands with it in the background explaining it’s the best building in the town and one of the most exciting in the region. Over views of both the bridge and its gondola, not in operation on the day of filming, John provides a history of his construction and a describes the town as ‘the heart of Teesside’. Standing in nearby Queens Square John provides a history of Middlesbrough’s development in the early 19th century pointing out some of the early building that remain today including the Old Town Hall and Customs House. Over views of the nearby Cleveland Building John explains how with the discovery of ironstone in the Cleveland Hills in the 1850s the town exploded with the likes of ironmasters Bolchow and Vaughn. A decorative wall is all the remains of their original factory but gives an idea of the scale of their operation. Over a montage of builds in and around Exchange Square and the railway station John explains how in the second half of the 19th century the towns growth was unparalleled anywhere else in Britain and its architecture was inspired by industry and was both mighty and heroic in scale. Standing with a derelict factory in the background John states that this old industrial area has and is suffering from depression. Dressed again as the Town Planner John asks him if he thinks Teesside has been handled well by mid-20th century town planers, John doe not think so. He tells a tale of two town, both ancient market towns and ports, but that have been handled very differently by the town planner. Over a montage of Yarm-on-Tees John points out the many positive architectural features from its Georgian buildings to its many narrow alleys and sideroads. In the nearby town of Stockton-on-Tees over views of the wide High Street and town hall, John explains how the town has been altered and spoiled by dreadful 1960s and 70s buildings. Returning to John as Town Planner he admits mistakes were made, but people’s lives were changing, and people wanted more thinks such as the Castle Gate Shopping Centre. Standing at the rear of the shopping centre near the banks of the Tees itself, John describes the view as one of Teesside least desirable facades and being an unworthy and unimaginative response to planners turning their back to the river. Over a montage of the office buildings and apartments built by the Teesside Development Corporation at Thornaby-on-Tees as well as the Queens Campus John sees this as a massive improvement and architecture worthy of a great river like the Tees. At the nearby Tees Barrage someone comes down the white-water rapids in a canoe, something delightful to watch explains John as well as the bridge crossing the barrage itself. A montage of chemical works and gas pipelines, oil refineries and power stations built between Middlesbrough and the sea where new industries have developed away from the town centre. Described by John as ‘fantastically vital’ it is the ‘essence of industry’ as Teesside is doing the dirty work for the rest of the region. Finally, at Teesmouth a classic river mouth landscape of sand dunes and sea birds and golfers on a local course playing with the industrial landscape in the background. Walking along North Gare Beach John picks up a piece of blast furnace slag from the sand and ends the programme by saying of the Tees ‘lead at one end iron at the other and sheer beauty in between.’ Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Photography Dave Dixon Sound Andrew Bennett Graphics Alan Davidson Dubbing Mixer Charles Heath Editor Bernard Helm Director / Producer Roger Burgess Title: © Tyne Tees Television 1999 End title: A Tyne Tees Television Production. © Tyne Tees Television MCMXCIX