The Coracle
Mary-Ann Ochota finds out about the coracle, an ancient boat that can be made from twigs and a bed sheet, yet which has saved lives in desperate times.
Mary-Ann Ochota explores the story of the coracle, a boat that's as simple as they come, and which some believe has been on our waters for anything up to 40,000 years. Found all over the world, the coracle comes in many different shapes, often determined by local materials, conditions of rivers or the intended purpose of the boat. No longer as common a sight as they once were, there are still commercial coracle fishermen working the rivers of west Wales.
Mary-Ann meets a man whose family has been coracle fishing the same river for over 300 years and joins a night-time fishing expedition. In Ironbridge, Shropshire, she hears how coraclemen led poaching expeditions to help locals in times of economic crisis. She also makes her very own coracle, which she uses to race in the annual Ironbridge Coracle Regatta, an event that proves there is still an enduring popularity to these little boats, even if the focus is now very much on fun.
Last on
Discover the surprising history of Britain鈥檚 strangest looking boat.
Clips
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How to make a coracle
Duration: 01:54
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Traditional coracle fishing in Wales
Duration: 00:35
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Night fishing by coracle
Duration: 01:49
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Poaching by coracle
Duration: 01:43
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Mary-Ann Ochota |
Series Producer | Ed Barlow |
Series Editor | Diana Hare |
Broadcasts
- Fri 29 Sep 2017 19:3091热爆 One HD & West Midlands only
- Sun 1 Oct 2017 09:0091热爆 One Wales HD & Wales only
- Sat 7 Oct 2017 20:0091热爆 Two except Scotland
- Tue 10 Oct 2017 16:3091热爆 Two Scotland
- Wed 18 Oct 2017 08:00
- Thu 26 Oct 2017 19:0091热爆 Two Scotland
- Thu 18 Aug 2022 19:0091热爆 One West Midlands HD & West Midlands only