Britain's First Photo Album

John Sergeant recalls Victorian photographer Francis Frith's attempt to document Britain. In London, John finds out about the real Eliza Doolittles.

Recalling the work of Victorian photographer Francis Frith, John Sergeant explores the North Kent coast to find out how much it has changed over a century.

From photographs taken in the 1860s, John Sergeant is inspired to find out the smugglers' haunts of medieval Rye and where Victorian riflemen learnt their skills.

John Sergeant documents changes in Britain's towns from a perspective of photos taken in the 1860s. In this episode he observes changes at Stonehenge.

John Sergeant travels to the south west to find out how much has changed since Victorian photographer Francis Frith attempted to document life in Britain.

John Sergeant's journey continues. He finds out about the restoration of the canals of Monmouthshire and heads deep underground beneath the Forest of Dean.

John Sergeant travels to the north west where he meets up with a photographic society that can trace its roots back to Francis Frith.

John Sergeant visits the western Highlands to find out more about a steam ship that has been transporting tourists for over 100 years.

John Sergeant searches for a missing rock formation in Hartlepool and visits the Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the Sea.

John Sergeant travels to Derbyshire and to Francis Frith's home town of Chesterfield, where he ascends the twisted spire and visits a medieval country house.