Islands of Britain (TV series) Islands of Britain (TV series) Islands of Britain is a 2009 documentary series, filmed over the summers of 2008 and 2009, hosted by Martin Clunes, which visited a number of the islands that lie off the coast of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the Channel Islands. Visited Muckle Flugga, Forewick Holm, and Unst in the Shetland Islands then Lewis and Harris, Eigg and Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Visited Piel Island in Cumbria, Islay in the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Man, and Rathlin off the coast of Northern Ireland. Visited Guernsey and Sark in the Channel
Maritime history of the Channel Islands 1790, Guernsey merchants shipped low quality brandy to Madeira, where it was added to their wine to fortify it. Madeira wine becoming famous. Both Islands established Chambers of Commerce as the merchant families expanded and grew in wealth. Tupper, Priaulx, Le Marchant and De Jersey from Guernsey and Ste Croix, Robin, Janvrin and Hemery from Jersey, often intermarrying to avoid rivalry. Part ownership of ships show there were 1,238 people were owners of shares in the 19th Century including 280 mariners and 97 in ship related trades, but also included 55 farmers, 34 widows, 29 spinsters and 25 gentlemen. It