Archaeologist Ben Robinson explores the story of the village from Norman times to the present day. With ancient churches, castles, market places and cottages, the English village is a magnet for tourists. This cosy, picture postcard image is a snapshot of England which is recognised across the globe. But the story of the village from ancient times to the present day is not one of sleepy rural idylls. It is a story of purpose, persistence and power. ‘Pubs, Ponds and Power – The Story of the Village’ looks at how some of England’s greatest villages have evolved over time.

Ben Robinson
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Archaeologist Ben Robinson explores Lavenham in Suffolk, the best-preserved medieval village in the country. In the 16th century, Lavenham was one of the wealthiest places in England, becoming rich on its woollen cloth industry, but the industry declined and the wealthy abandoned Lavenham. By the 19th century it was a place of poverty, but today it is once more a jewel of a village.
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Archaeologist Ben Robinson explores the Cornish fishing village of Port Isaac. Behind the quaint facade lies something far more gritty - a place where people exploited a range of natural resources, on land and at sea, to make a living and find profits far beyond Britain's shores.