Salt of the Earth
Paul heads to the River Ayr for this Grand Tour. Starting on Hareshaw Hill, he uncovers a legacy of mineral wealth and religious conflict before reaching the Clyde coast.
Paul follows the River Ayr as it flows from Loch Glenbuck towards the sea and the Clyde coast. The old mining village of Glenbuck was demolished long ago, but its memory is kept alive by former resident Barbara Alexander whose uncle, the famous Liverpool football manager Bill Shankly, was a Glenbuck man. From Glenbuck, Paul follows the river through a landscape pockmarked by the scars of old mineral extraction and industry.
At Muirkirk he discovers how a local man illuminated the cities of the world with gas lighting, and how a certain Mr McAdam invented tarmac for the roads of the world. The course of the river Ayr flows through land rich in covenanting history when religious conflict cost many lives. In the Ayr gorge, Paul encounters the extraordinary tale of the radical preacher Alexander Peden, whose life on the run forced him to hide in caves while still preaching hellfire sermons to the people.
Finally reaching the coast, Paul visits the only working salt evaporation tower in the world. Here, with a pinch of salt, he learns how sea water is evaporated by wind and sun to make brine, from which sea salt is made.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Paul Murton |
Executive Producer | Harry Bell |
Director | Paul Murton |
Broadcasts
- Wed 15 Dec 2021 19:3091热爆 One Scotland HD & Scotland only
- Thu 16 Dec 2021 19:30
- Mon 20 Dec 2021 14:00
- Mon 29 Aug 2022 15:30
- Sat 3 Jun 2023 20:10
- Sun 12 May 2024 20:15