Man at the top
Fred Dibnah knows a thing or two about buildings. He first came to our screens in 1979, as the subject of a fascinating documentary, Fred Dibnah: Steeplejack. The programme followed him as he worked in and around his hometown of Bolton, Lancashire, restoring (and occasionally demolishing to spectacular effect) industrial chimneys and other structures. He's made several documentary series since, exploring his passions for steam and the pioneering technologies of the Industrial Revolution.

Skill sets
The Building of Britain gives a unique insight into the daily lives of the artisans and labourers who worked on the building sites of old. A 12th-century stonemason was highly sought-after by noblemen and royalty eager to stamp their authority on an unruly nation by building impregnable castles or awe-inspiring cathedrals. Working on a castle was a dangerous business and stonemasons often had to have armed guards in locations where the local population hadn't been fully subdued. There was no stopping for a nice cup of tea and a couple of bourbon biccies, either; the stonemasons had to work long difficult hours.

Come into the garden
Fred travels all over the country for this show but one of the most important locations is his own back garden. Here, he recreates some of the techniques used by the builders featured in the series. Look out for the bit when he tests his own Norman arch by sitting on it: the results aren't quite what he was hoping for!

Machine age
Middle Age builders employed an efficient lifting device that would allow you to haul 1.5 tons of stone to the top of a 100-foot tower in around 15 minutes. You'd be a bit puffed out by the end, though, and would have to sit down for a good draught of mead.