For centuries the Royal Navy has strived to help make Britain one of the world's great maritime superpowers. Now in a new BBC documentary series Empire of the Seas, starting on BBC TWO on 15 January 9-10pm, historian and avid sailor Dan Snow visits the various attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and around the coast, to go beyond the battle tactics and reveal a surprising history.
Travelling across the oceans and with unique access to the modern fleet, Dan examines the impact of the Royal Navy on society, from its role in the foundation of the Bank of England to the creation of a model for the civil service.
The series unearths rarely seen manuscripts and records, and reveals the hidden human stories behind the famous battles.
With enthusiasm and passion, Dan mostly tells the story of the navy from the decks of ships on which he clearly feels at home. "My interest goes back years," he says. “As a kid I loved reading books and watching movies about it – I've developed a real passion for the navy. I''ve also done a lot of sailing and have visited many of the ports and great cities of Europe to get a sense of their importance, and I've crossed the Atlantic twice. With my dad, sister and cousin, I sailed a 40ft boat from the Canary Islands to St Lucia, following the route the slave traders used to take with the Trade Winds blowing behind – it was fascinating.”
‘Empire Of The Seas’ offers an intriguing take on British history, one in which the navy takes centre stage. So has its importance been underestimated? "Yes, of course," Dan says “In this series we talk about big events such as the Industrial Revolution, the Glorious Revolution, The French and American Revolutions. The navy is a thread that runs through this extraordinary story of how a little island in the middle of the North Atlantic became a world conquering empire. It explains a lot about the modern world.”
A year in the making, but based on research which goes back years, Dan combines finely detailed social history with epic stories. “We didn''t just want to make a traditional series about big battles,” he says. “We wanted to look at what was going on beneath the surface. It covers ordinary things like the supply of nails or food and the impact it had on the rest of Britain. At the end of each programme a climactic battle demonstrates everything we've been talking about.”
The series will not only show the modern Navy within Portsmouth Naval Base but also HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS Victory. Dan Snow explores how Warrior was taken on a tour of the country so that the public could explore the latest innovations in shipbuilding. Filmed during the Royal Navy Past and Present weekend, it was the perfect way to illustrate the historical tour and reflect the enduring relationship between the British public and the Royal Navy. The series will show the areas below decks that visitors in 1863 found interesting and new – such as the laundry area and machine rooms.
Accompanying the series is a new book, written by Brian Lavery, one of the nation's foremost naval historians. Sharing the title with the TV series, "Empire of the Seas" will re-inject the romance into Britain''s seafaring past. Lavery discusses the hidden human stories behind the celebrated sea-battles and also provides a warts-and-all expose of the darker chapters in the Navy's past, including its role in slavery and the spread of disease.
The Royal Navy has provided the country with many of its heroes, including Drake and Nelson. In addition to them, hundreds of thousands of men served with the fleet over the centuries. This is the story of the effect they had on the world.
The book is illustrated with a superlative collection of artworks and photographs from various collections including the Royal Naval Museum.
Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World is published by Conway, RRP £20.00 (www.conwaypublishing.com)
A trailer for the TV series can be seen on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/empire-of-the-seas/
Photos: © John Lee/Anova Books 2009
