Villages by the Sea - Gorey

Original version

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

BBC Two HD

Villages by the Sea

Documentaries

Factual: History

Series looking at coastal villages that have often been on the front line of history.

Series 3

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One South HD

BBC Two England

England

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

To allow the historical schedules to be captured and assist in analytics and associating audience data with rights stakeholders

BBC History Channel

Ben Robinson

Pam Cavannagh

Dympna Jackson

Purple Productions

Villages by the Sea: Series 3: Gorey

Gorey

BBC One - Villages by the Sea, Series 3, Gorey

Ben Robinson finds evidence of the WWII German occupation of the Jersey village of Gorey.

Archaeologist Ben Robinson uncovers evidence of the German occupation of the Jersey village of Gorey and the role it played in defending the UK.

Sitting on the east coast of Jersey, and about 14 miles from the coast of Normandy, the small village of Gorey was for hundreds of years the front line of defence between the British Isles and its enemy, the French. 

Archaeologist Ben Robinson follows this small village’s history as an important military location, from the castle built in the 1200s to the experiences of the village in the Second World War, when occupied by Hitler’s army. 

Ben goes in search of archaeological reminders of the occupation and meets local resident Jason Meads, who has a subterranean gun tower literally in his back yard. He meets sisters Dorothy and Renee, who both recount their stories of what life was like as children living alongside the German army and hears that even the church made sacrifices to help the community that lacked basic clothing and adequate food. 

Finally, Ben meets local historian Phillip Marett, who takes him to the gun tower from where the occupying soldiers could have watched the Battle of Normandy. He also hears a first-hand recollection of the liberation of the island.

Villages by the Sea: Series 3

BBC One

How the past has shaped some of our best-loved
coastal village communities.

Series looking at how the past has shaped some of our best-loved coastal village communities.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Villages by the Sea

Series 3

Gorey

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two HD

About BBC Two