All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S08E02.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AlfaHD_track3_[eng]

(uplifting orchestral music)

- Our journey
begins at the Seven Sisters,

a vast set of spectacular chalk cliffs

on the south coast of England.

Heading east, we reach Battle,

the site of one of the
most important events

in English history, the
Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Continuing to the north,
we visit Bateman's,

home to one of England's
greatest poets, Rudyard Kipling.

Before continuing to the east
where we reach Romney Marsh,

an other worldly place,

sometimes called the Fifth Continent.

Our journey takes us onto Dover,

one of the world's
busiest passenger ports,

and a vital link between
Britain and mainland Europe.

We then follow the coast
north, glimpsing Deal Castle,

a masterpiece of medieval
military engineering.

Finally, we reach Canterbury
and its magnificent cathedral.

On the south coast of England,

in the county of East Sussex,
are the Seven Sisters.

These rolling white cliffs
are part of the South Downs,

a chalk formation that
stretches 110 kilometers

across the South of England.

These white cliffs are an
iconic part of England,

a symbol of a nation known through history

as an island fortress.

(gentle music)

The chalk was deposited
around 100 million years ago

when sea levels were higher
and England was under the sea.

The rock was forced upwards and eroded

to form these dramatic cliffs.

The sea continues to wash
away the Seven Sisters.

Each year they retreat
by around 40 centimeters.

The Seven Sisters are
designated as an area

of outstanding natural beauty,

and since 2011, part of
England's newest national park,

the South Downs National Park.

Within the Seven Sisters is the
pebble beach of Birling Gap.

The sheltered sides of this natural bay

make it the perfect place
for landing small boats.

And, for centuries, smuggling.

The cottages above Birling
Gap once housed the families

of the customs officials
who kept watch over it.

Today, Birling Gap is
popular with visitors,

day trippers, and in quieter
parts of the beach, nudists.

At the end of the Seven
Sisters is Beachy Head.

This steep cliff is sadly
notorious for suicides,

claiming the lives of
about 20 people a year.

In the sea below is
Beachy Head Lighthouse.

It's said that a light
has been kept burning here

since 1670, warning sailors
of the rocky eastern end

of the South Downs.

Begun in 1900, this lighthouse
took two years to build.

At 43 meters tall, its
construction required a cable car

from the clifftop to bring down

over 3,000 tons of Cornish granite.

Once, the lighthouse was run by a keeper,

but in 1983, it was automated.

Today, it's monitored remotely

from a facility hundreds of miles away.

Close by to the east is the
seaside town of Eastbourne,

with its famous pier.

Built in the 19th century,
it is 300 meters long.

In 2014, the pier caught fire
and was almost destroyed,

but thanks to a local entrepreneur,

it has been rescued and is
currently being redeveloped.

We continue on our journey,

passing through the patchwork fields

of the East Sussex countryside,
to reach Pevensey Castle.

These extraordinary ruined castle walls

were built by the Romans around 290 AD

to guard the British coast
against Saxon pirates.

It's 290 meters long and 170 wide,

the largest surviving Roman fort,

from this period, in England.

In 1066, William the
Conqueror used Pevensey

to rally his troops in
his invasion of England.

Later, the Normans built
this smaller castle

within the old Roman walls.

Nearby, surrounded by magnificent parkland

and formal gardens, is
Herstmonceux Castle.

(gentle music)

The name comes from the marriage

of a lady called Idonea de Herst

to a Norman nobleman
called Ingelram de Monceux.

The old manor began to be
called the Herst of Monceux,

a name that eventually
became Herstmonceux.

Built in the 15th century,
this is one of the oldest

remaining brick buildings in England.

Brick was an unusual
material for a castle,

and the builders perhaps
concentrated more on grandeur

and comfort than on defense.

In the 1950s it was home to the
Royal Greenwich Observatory,

but in 1990, with light pollution growing

from the nearby town of Eastbourne,

the observatory moved out.

It was feared that the
castle would be redeveloped,

endangering this Elizabethan wall garden

and the vast castle moat.

But, today, on the top of the gatehouse,

alongside the British Union
Jack, flies the Canadian flag.

In 1994 the developers were defeated

and the castle became
home to a study center

for international law students

at the Queen's University of Canada.

The castle was a gift to the university

by the Canadian chemist, Alfred Bader.

Today, the Bader Center welcomes students

from around the world to study
in this spectacular building

and its beautiful surroundings.

(gentle music)

Our journey continues,
moving east along the coast

to reach the historic town of Hastings.

It was on this stretch of coast

that William, Duke of
Normandy, landed his army

and began his conquest of England.

Before his arrival Hastings
was an important fishing port,

and today it's still
home to the largest fleet

of beach launched fishing boats in Europe.

Hastings' 280 meter long
pier opened in 1872.

Over the years it has held a rifle range,

a bowling alley, and a
2,000 seater pavilion.

In the 1980s the pier fell into disuse,

and in 2008 it was closed.

But with the help of charitable
donations and a public grant

the pier is being reconstructed.

And in 2016 it opens its
doors once more to the public.

Perched atop a hill overlooking
the town is Hastings Castle.

Built in 1070 AD this was one
of the first permanent forts

constructed by the Normans in Britain.

Once, Hastings Castle
had a large stone keep,

dungeons and a church,

but in 1287 violent storms
undermined the cliffs

and caused parts of the building,
including the castle keep,

to fall into the sea below.

Over the years that followed
the castle was ruined,

until in the 1530s it was
demolished by Henry VIII

who built new forts around the coast.

For centuries the land
was used for farming

and the castle was forgotten,

until in 1824 the ruins were excavated

and opened to the public.

Today it's a favorite spot for tourists,

following in the footsteps
of a much earlier visitor,

William the Conqueror.

He changed the course of
English history here at Battle.

It's named after his great
victory, the Battle of Hastings.

On the 14th of October, 1066, the English,

led by King Harold, faced
William's army from the ridge

where the abbey now stands.

The battle was fierce,
bloody and closely matched.

But the Norman archers
had powerful crossbows.

One of their arrows reached King Harold,

striking him in the eye and killing him.

Leaderless, the English
were soon defeated.

William took the throne and
was crowned on Christmas Day.

He ruled until his death in 1087.

As penance for the blood shed here,

William was ordered by the
pope to build Battle Abbey.

It was not completed
until after his death.

Legend has it that the abbey
altar is on the exact spot

that King Harold fell, it
is marked with a plaque.

Over the years the abbey slowly
fell into a ruinous state.

Some of the buildings still remain

and are used today by Battle Abbey School.

A few miles to the north
is Bateman's house.

Built in the 17th century Jacobean period

from local sandstone,

it was originally for
a wealthy iron maker.

The roof tiles and 12 chimneys were made

from local Weald Clay.

But this most English of
houses went on to become home

to that most English of
writers, Rudyard Kipling.

In 1902, Kipling saw the house

and immediately fell in love with it.

He wrote later, "Behold us lawful owners

"of a grey stone lichened
house, AD 1634 over the door.

"All untouched and unfaked.

"It is a good and peaceable place.

"We have loved it ever since
our first sight of it."

He lived there until his death in 1936.

In 1939 his wife gave
Bateman's to The National Trust

to be opened to the public.

Today, the rooms are largely
as Kipling left them.

His Rolls-Royce is still in the garage,

his Nobel Prize certificate
hangs from the wall,

and in his book-lined
study can be seen his desk,

writing tools, paperweight and pipe.

This is one of the most
spectacular castles

in Britain; Bodiam.

It's been said that anyone
who has ever built sandcastles

will feel an immediate
affinity with Bodiam.

It looks like the work of
a giant bucket and spade.

Built in the 14th century,
the castle was the work

of a knight who had fought in France.

Bodiam was intended to defend
against a revenge attack

from the coast.

The castle is notable for its symmetry.

It's an almost perfect square.

At each corner stands a
four-story cylindrical tower,

with rectangular towers
halfway along each wall.

The moat is an artificial lake,

created by diverting
the nearby River Rother

into an area of marshy land.

Remarkably, the castle still has

its original wooden portcullis,

the gate that was raised
to allow guests to enter,

and lowered to hold enemies at bay.

But during the English Civil
War of the 17th century,

it was occupied and the interiors gutted.

It fell into disrepair before being given

to The National Trust.

Today, many thousands visit each year

to explore this picturesque
knight's castle,

and to enjoy its magnificent views

across the East Sussex countryside.

This is Romney Marsh, a home to a variety

of wildlife and birds.

The poet, John Betjeman, wrote of it,

"Romney Marsh, where the roads wind

"like streams through the pasture

"and the sky is always three
quarters of the landscape.

"The sea has given a
colour to this district.

"It has spotted with the
silver oak posts and rails.

"It gives the grass and the
rushes a grey, salty look."

Close to the natural
beauty of Romney Marsh

we find a more modern
marvel, the Eurostar.

This is one of the 44 high-speed trains

that run on the line,

connecting Britain with
Paris and Brussels.

The Eurostar carries more
than 10 million passengers

each year, many arriving here
at the Folkestone terminal.

The idea of tunneling under the Channel

was suggested as early as 1802,

but it wasn't for 200 years, in 1988,

that construction began.

The Eurotunnel opened in 1994.

The trains take not only passengers,

but on the Eurostar shuttle service,

cars, coaches and freight.

It's an important trade link

between Britain and the continent.

The tunnel itself is 50 kilometers long.

With 38 kilometers beneath the Channel,

it's the longest underwater
tunnel in the world.

The trains can run at up
to 300 kilometers an hour,

taking just over two hours to
travel from London to Paris.

While the Eurostar symbolizes Britain's

closeness to the continent,

the White Cliffs of Dover
symbolize her defense.

And since the 1990s,
there's a new bit of land

beneath the Cliffs, the spoil
from digging the tunnel.

The Port of Dover is the
nearest English one to France,

just 34 kilometers away.

For centuries, this was the main route

into and out of England.

Since at least the Bronze Age,

this port has been used to
trade goods across the Channel.

And today, it remains
amongst the world's busiest

passenger ports with 16 million travelers,

two million lorries,
and three million cars

passing through it each year.

The port is a stopping point for ferries

running to Calais and Dunkirk,

and cruise ships, which set out from Dover

to explore the world.

Overseeing this traffic
is Dover Coastguard,

built on an artillery battery,

used in both the first
and second World Wars.

The control room takes the place

of one of the old gun positions.

By volume, Britain an island nation,

transports about 95% of its trade by sea.

Almost all imported goods arrive by ship,

and much travels through the Channel,

making it one of the
busiest seaways on Earth.

In 1972, after a number
of serious collisions,

the world's first sea traffic
separation scheme was set up.

Vessels traveling to the north must now

use the French side of the Channel,

while the English lane
is taken to the south.

Larger ships register with an

automated identification system,

giving information to the Coastguard

on their course, destination and speed.

And criss-crossing this busy shipping lane

are all the ferries
running 24 hours a day.

Every now and then, and with permission,

swimmers also try and cross the Channel.

This is an extraordinary
feat of endurance.

Only 700 people have accomplished it.

The route takes swimmers from
the White Cliffs of Dover

to Cap Gris Nez in France.

It can take anything
from seven to 27 hours,

depending on the weather,
currents, and shipping schedules.

Their journey, along with
that of the thousands

of ships that pass through the Channel,

are watched over by the Dover Coastguard.

Above the port is the
spectacular Dover Castle.

Known as the Key to England,

it has defended the realm
for over nine centuries,

making it one of the
oldest forts in Britain.

Close by the castle, next
to the parish church,

is the Roman Lighthouse, or Pharos.

From the top of this building,

a fire beacon was once lit each night,

guiding Roman vessels sailing between Gaul

and Britannia into the harbor.

Despite having served the
nation since the 12th century,

Dover Castle only recently
ended its active service.

During the Napoleonic
Wars in the 18th century,

tunnels were dug beneath the castle

to house men and supplies.

These were used in both World
Wars as command centers.

It was from here in
1940 that the evacuation

of French and British soldiers
from Dunkirk was directed.

Later, during the Cold
War, they were planned

to be one of Britain's
regional seats of government

in the event of nuclear war.

Overlooking the castle is another part

of Britain's coastal defenses,

Swingate transmitting station.

This was one of the five stations

that made up a system called Chain Home.

Completed in 1936, it was
one of the world's first

practical radar systems.

Chain Home was a vital part
of the British war effort

in the fight against Nazi Germany.

It detected German bombers
approaching across the Channel,

giving early warning
to the Royal Air Force,

and letting them use their
fighters more effectively.

The three lattice towers have
a height of around 111 meters.

Today, Swingate is used to
transmit FM radio for the BBC.

A few miles up the coast is Walmer Castle.

Built by Henry VIII,
it was part of a chain

of coastal artillery defenses.

It later became the home
of the Duke of Wellington,

who was made Lord Warden
of the Cinque Ports,

an honorary position going
back to the 12th century.

Visitors can see the armchair
in which he died in 1852,

as well as a true pair
of Wellington boots.

Close by is another link in Henry VIII's

chain of coastal defenses, Deal Castle.

Built in 1539, it countered the threat

of invasion from Catholic Europe.

Deal Castle overlooks a sheltered area

of water know as the Downs,

an ideal rallying location
for an invading fleet.

The fort is shaped like a Tudor rose,

Henry's family's symbol.

At the center of the
fort is a circular keep,

80 meters in diameter.

This is surrounded by to
rings of six bastions,

allowing defending troops
to fire in all directions,

and to control access to the dry moat.

This was a new style of military castle

designed purely for defense
and manned by soldiers.

Finally, our journey
takes us to Canterbury

and its extraordinary cathedral.

Canterbury Cathedral
dates from around 1070.

It was built by the Normans
after William conquered England.

The cathedral is 160 meters
long, it's tower 72 meters tall.

Canterbury is the seat
of the senior bishop

and leader of the Church of England.

It was where an earlier
archbishop, Thomas Becket,

was murdered in 1170 on
the order of King Henry II.

And so this magnificent cathedral,

begun by the Romans,
rebuilt by the Normans,

and added to over the following centuries,

is a symbol of both French
conquest and English identity.

Since the Middle Ages, this
has been the final destination

for pilgrims and visitors,

making it the perfect
place to end this journey.

(uplifting orchestral music)