Canals: The Making of a Nation

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Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

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Liz McIvor

Andy Richards

Tony Parker

Canals: The Making of a Nation: Episode 3: Capitalism

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Capitalism

Episode 3

Episode 3: Capitalism

BBC One - Canals: The Making of a Nation, Capitalism

Charting the period of activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy.

Liz McIvor recounts the story of 'canal mania', the period of activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy, now centred in London.

Liz McIvor tells the story of 'canal mania' - a boom period of frenzied activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy, now centred in London. The canal capitalists made money by investing and speculating in the new inland waterways used to carry fuel and goods around the country. Many of the investors were part of an emerging middle class. The Grand Junction Canal - built to improve the connection between London and the Midlands - was one of the new routes, and eventually proved to be a good investment for shareholders. However, not all canals were profitable. The new investors discovered that investment capitalism was a system that created winners and losers.

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Liz McIvor looks at who built, worked on and regenerated the nation's canal network.

Liz McIvor looks at who built the nation's canal network, who funded it, those who worked on it and how they were regenerated following WWII.

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Canals: The Making of a Nation

Episode 3: Capitalism

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