Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
Comments
01Liverpool's Other Cathedral20120723In the first in the series. architectural writer and historian Jonathan Glancey goes in search of some of the most fantastic building projects in Britain which didn't make it off the drawing board. In Liverpool, he discovers the story of a great cathedral designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The foundation stone was laid in 1933 for this monumental building which would have dominated the city skyline, and Jonathan finds that the crypt was actually built.

But why wasn't the cathedral ever finished? Jonathan Glancey visits Liverpool to find out.

The story of Liverpool's great unbuilt Catholic cathedral, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it

02A Pyramid For Primrose Hill20120724In the second in the series, architectural writer and historian Jonathan Glancey looks at some of the most fantastic building projects of Britain and finds out why they didn't make it off the drawing board. In north London, Primrose Hill is today a park much loved by local residents. But, as Jonathan discovers, plans in the 19th century might have led to a giant pyramid being built, a place of burial for millions of corpses.

How could such an extraordinary project ever have been considered for this part of London? Jonathan Glancey looks at the Victorian approach to death and how an Egyptian pyramid might just have fitted with the times.

The story of the 19th-century plans to build a giant pyramid cemetery on Primrose Hill.

Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it

03Edinburgh's Great South Bridge Project20120725In the third in the series, architectural writer and historian Jonathan Glancey looks at some of the most fantastic building projects of Britain and finds out why they didn't make it off the drawing board. In Edinburgh, Robert Adam planned a marvellous street which would act as the gateway to the city for visitors from the south. Called 'South Bridge', the project allowed for a street elevated over the hilly approach, with rich decorations and elegant colonnades.

It might have been a wonderful proposal, but there was a price tag attached. Jonathan Glancey finds out more about the reputation of Robert Adam in Edinburgh and the reasons why the city fathers took against the project.

Why did the city fathers of Edinburgh take against Robert Adam's plans for a new street.

Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it

04A Palace For Whitehall20120726In the fourth in the series, architectural writer and historian Jonathan Glancey looks at some of the most fantastic building projects of Britain and finds out why they didn't make it off the drawing board. Imagine a sumptuous palace in London that would have taken up most of Whitehall. This was exactly what was planned in the time of James I of England by the King's ambitious architect, Inigo Jones. He had been appointed to the position of Surveyor of the King's Works in 1613 and he drew up extensive and revolutionary plans for Whitehall.

Jonathan Glancey joins Simon Thurley of English Heritage in Inigo Jones's masterpiece, the Banqueting House, to find out what happened to the grandiose scheme.

Jonathan Glancey finds out about 17th-century plans for a sumptuous palace in Whitehall.

Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it

05A West Coast Monument20120727In the last in the series, Jonathan Glancey visits the west highland town of Oban to find out why a remarkable landmark building never got finished. High on the hill above Oban is McCaig's Tower, built by John Stewart McCaig. It's an impressive sight, with a shape like the Coliseum in Rome. But McCaig planned to build much more than we can see today, and Jonathan sets out to find out why the plans were never followed through.

Why a landmark building in Oban by John Stewart McCaig never got finished.

Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it