Thursday, 21 August 2008
6.10pm

The picturesque English countryside of rolling fields and hamlets is not a natural rural scene. It has been man made, explains historian presenter Simon Thurley on the countryside revolution of Britain.

When medieval strip farming methods were thrown out in the 18th century to improve yields, the landscape changed radically to a patchwork of hedgerows and fields. In 40 years, three million acres of England, Scotland and Wales were transformed, and corn production increased 40 per cent.

A series of model farms grew up as agriculture determined the architecture. Landscapers cleverly conjured up natural looking designs that fooled people into thinking Mother Nature was at work. Market towns grew up and the aristocracy began leaving their country houses to come to town for their social life.