Thomas Telford: The Man Who Built Britain

Gr 9 Up—This biographical film focuses on the life and work of Scottish civil engineer Thomas Telford, who constructed various bridges, roads, and canals throughout Britain in the early 19th century. After growing up in poverty, Telford became a self-educated man and started an apprenticeship as a stonemason. A strong work ethic, combined with natural aptitude and artistic vision, helped him improve transportation throughout the kingdom. In fact, many of Telford's projects are still in use today. Period reenactments and expert interviews explain the importance of this creative engineer and philanthropist. The production values are solid. However, the volume of the narrator's voice is low compared to that of the voices of the interviewees and the music. Additionally, American viewers may have difficulty with the Scottish accents, especially when speakers are naming locations unknown to many outside Britain.