Walking Through History Season 1 Episode 3 The Tudor Way

Walking Through History is a television series that takes renowned historian, Tony Robinson, on a journey through the length and breadth of Britain, exploring its history and uncovering fascinating stories from the past. In season one, episode three titled "The Tudor Way," Robinson takes viewers on a walk along a historic route that spans over three hundred years of significant British history.

The Tudor Way is a trail that dates back to the 16th century, connecting a string of historic Tudor sites across England. Robinson starts his journey at Winchester, where King Henry VIII first met his future wife, Catherine of Aragon. He walks along the 43-mile long trail, through the idyllic Hampshire countryside towards Salisbury.

Along the way, Robinson delves into the glorious history of the Tudor Dynasty and the people who shaped those times, such as Bishop Fox, who commissioned the beautiful architecture at Winchester Cathedral, where the trail begins. Robinson stops off at quaint hamlets and historic buildings en route to appreciate the architectural and cultural heritage that the Tudor Dynasty left embedded in these places.

One of the highlights of this episode is Robinson's visit to Wolvesey Castle, where Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon once stayed. Wolvesey Castle was also the location for the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor period and was the residence for English bishops until the 17th century.

As Robinson walks further on the Tudor Way Trail, he takes viewers through a rich tapestry of Tudor history, including its lively towns and markets bursting with colorful merchants. Robinson visits the Bishop of Salisbury's Palace in the town of Salisbury and discusses how the palaces served as a symbol of power and as a residence. He also stops at the ruins of Wardour Castle, which was a defensive structure built in classic Elizabethan style to protect the Catholic interests during the Tudor reign.

Throughout the episode, Robinson's expertise and charm bring life to the Tudor past, weaving fascinating historical insights and anecdotes together. He touches upon multiple topics such as handcrafts, agriculture, religion, and more, that made up the Tudor way-of-life, leaving viewers with a vivid picture of life during the Tudor period.

As the episode comes to a close, viewers are left with a deep appreciation of this rich era of history, and the remaining artefacts and sites left behind from this period. Robinson's walk through the Tudor Way is not just a journey through beautiful landscapes but through a fascinating account of an era, packed with stories of intrigue, political drama and architectural wonders that have stood the test of time.